Tēnā koe Hayden,

Thank you for your official information request received on 27 February 2026.

Your request below will be considered, and a decision provided in accordance with the requirements of the Official Information Act 1982.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please email [email address].

Kā mihi,

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs
Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatū Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington 6140
Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [email address] | Web: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

-----Original Message-----
From: Hayden <[FOI #33881 email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 February 2026 4:16 pm
To: Official Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Legal Position on Recreational Wild Game Meat Sale

[You don't often get email from [FOI #33881 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Ministry for Primary Industries,

Under the Official Information Act, I request:

MPI's current legal position on whether a person who takes a wild deer, pig, goat, tahr, or chamois during recreational hunting may lawfully sell the meat to a consumer, and the specific legislative provisions that govern this.
Any assessment or analysis of the food safety risks specifically associated with field-dressed and butchered wild game meat, as distinct from the food safety risks of commercially processed meat.

Any analysis of the pest control co-benefits that could arise from enabling the commercial sale of recreationally hunted pest animal meat — specifically, whether enabling an economic return on wild deer and pigs would reduce the cost of pest control to the Crown and regional councils.

The annual cost to the Crown (DOC, regional councils, OSPRI) of pest animal control for deer, pigs, goats, tahr, chamois, wallaby, and possums, for each of the past 5 financial years.

The number of recreational catch service providers currently licensed under Part 5B of the Animal Products Act 1999, and the volume of wild game meat processed through these providers annually.

Any submissions, correspondence, or briefings received by MPI from the Game Animal Council regarding the commercialisation or sale of recreationally hunted wild game meat.

Any assessment of whether the current prohibition on private sale of recreationally hunted wild game meat is justified by actual food safety evidence, or whether it is a legacy regulatory position that has not been reassessed.

The Game Animal Council's December 2023 strategic paper advocated for improved wild deer meat recovery frameworks. DOC and regional councils spend millions annually controlling pest species. I am establishing whether MPI has assessed whether enabling a regulated pathway for local sale of pest animal meat — with appropriate food safety safeguards — could deliver pest control co-benefits while improving food access.
If this analysis does not exist, that is the finding I am documenting.
If any information is to be withheld, please specify the grounds under the OIA for each withheld item.
If this request requires substantial collation or research, please contact me to discuss narrowing the scope before refusing under section 18(f).

Yours faithfully,

Hayden

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #33881 email]

Is [MPI request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry for Primary Industries? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the office.

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe Hayden,

On behalf of Michelle Morehu, Director Government Services, please find attached an update to your Official Information Act 1982 request.

Kā mihi,

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs
Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatū Ahu Matua
Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington 6140
Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [email address] | Web: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

-----Original Message-----
From: Official Information Act
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2026 8:58 am
To: 'Hayden' <[FOI #33881 email]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of your request, OIA26-0144

Tēnā koe Hayden,

Thank you for your official information request received on 27 February 2026.

Your request below will be considered, and a decision provided in accordance with the requirements of the Official Information Act 1982.

If you have any questions regarding this request, please email [email address].

Kā mihi,

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs
Ministry for Primary Industries – Manatū Ahu Matua Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington 6140
Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [email address] | Web: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

-----Original Message-----
From: Hayden <[FOI #33881 email]>
Sent: Friday, 27 February 2026 4:16 pm
To: Official Information Act <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Legal Position on Recreational Wild Game Meat Sale

[You don't often get email from [FOI #33881 email]. Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentific... ]

Dear Ministry for Primary Industries,

Under the Official Information Act, I request:

MPI's current legal position on whether a person who takes a wild deer, pig, goat, tahr, or chamois during recreational hunting may lawfully sell the meat to a consumer, and the specific legislative provisions that govern this.
Any assessment or analysis of the food safety risks specifically associated with field-dressed and butchered wild game meat, as distinct from the food safety risks of commercially processed meat.

Any analysis of the pest control co-benefits that could arise from enabling the commercial sale of recreationally hunted pest animal meat — specifically, whether enabling an economic return on wild deer and pigs would reduce the cost of pest control to the Crown and regional councils.

The annual cost to the Crown (DOC, regional councils, OSPRI) of pest animal control for deer, pigs, goats, tahr, chamois, wallaby, and possums, for each of the past 5 financial years.

The number of recreational catch service providers currently licensed under Part 5B of the Animal Products Act 1999, and the volume of wild game meat processed through these providers annually.

Any submissions, correspondence, or briefings received by MPI from the Game Animal Council regarding the commercialisation or sale of recreationally hunted wild game meat.

Any assessment of whether the current prohibition on private sale of recreationally hunted wild game meat is justified by actual food safety evidence, or whether it is a legacy regulatory position that has not been reassessed.

The Game Animal Council's December 2023 strategic paper advocated for improved wild deer meat recovery frameworks. DOC and regional councils spend millions annually controlling pest species. I am establishing whether MPI has assessed whether enabling a regulated pathway for local sale of pest animal meat — with appropriate food safety safeguards — could deliver pest control co-benefits while improving food access.
If this analysis does not exist, that is the finding I am documenting.
If any information is to be withheld, please specify the grounds under the OIA for each withheld item.
If this request requires substantial collation or research, please contact me to discuss narrowing the scope before refusing under section 18(f).

Yours faithfully,

Hayden

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #33881 email]

Is [MPI request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Ministry for Primary Industries? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://fyi.org.nz/change_request/new?bo...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

________________________________

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the office.

________________________________

hide quoted sections

Tçnâ koe Hayden,

 

Thank you for your email of 2 March 2026, requesting information relating
to wild game meat. Your request has been considered under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA).

 

This email is to let you know we are currently finalising our response to
your request and will provide this to you as soon as possible. I apologise
for any inconvenience this delay may cause you.

 

You may find the following information useful.

o Requirements for homekill and recreational catch service providers are
published on the Ministry for Primary Industries’ website at
[1]https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/me....
o Homekill and recreational catch are covered under Parts 6 and 10 of
the Animal Products Act 1999, which can be found at
[2]https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ....
o A public register of listed homekill and recreational catch service
providers can be found at
[3]https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/me....

 

Should you have any concerns with this decision, I would encourage you to
raise these with the Ministry for Primary Industries at
[4][email address].

 

Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also raise any concerns
with the Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wellington 6143 or at
[5][email address]

 

Ngâ mihi,

 

Official Information Act Team

Government Services | Public Affairs

Ministry for Primary Industries | Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen
Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington | New Zealand 

Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [6][email address] |
Web: [7]www.mpi.govt.nz

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the
addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be
legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it
contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call
the
sender immediately on 64 4 8940100 or notify us by return email and erase
the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the
office.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/me...
2. https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...
3. https://www.mpi.govt.nz/food-business/me...
4. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[email address]
7. http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections

Tēnā koe Hayden,

 

 

On behalf of John Walsh, Director Pest Management, please find attached a
response to your Official Information Act request.

 

 

Ngā mihi,

Official Information Act Team
Government Services | Public Affairs
Ministry for Primary Industries | Charles Fergusson Building, 38-42 Bowen
Street | PO Box 2526 | Wellington | New Zealand  

Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 | Email: [1][email address] |
Web: [2]www.mpi.govt.nz

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

This email message and any attachment(s) is intended solely for the
addressee(s)
named above. The information it contains may be classified and may be
legally
privileged. Unauthorised use of the message, or the information it
contains,
may be unlawful. If you have received this message by mistake please call
the
sender immediately on 64 4 830 1574 or notify us by return email and erase
the
original message and attachments. Thank you.

The Ministry for Primary Industries accepts no responsibility for changes
made to this email or to any attachments after transmission from the
office.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.mpi.govt.nz/

hide quoted sections