Central Otago deer farmer and veterinarian Amanda (Mandy) Bell was elected earlier this month as chair of the Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) board. Gerard Hickey, group managing director of First Light Foods, has been elected deputy chair. Under Bell’s leadership, DINZ will continue to support producers with policy advocacy, where needed, using the industry’s environmental leadership to build sales of venison and velvet.

DINZ is putting deer farmers’ voices forward on the latest draft of the National Policy Standard (NPS) on Indigenous Biodiversity.  The description of Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) is of most significance for deer farmers, says DINZ environmental stewardship manager Sara Elmes.

"Deer 101", run by DINZ and DFA for staff from regional council and central government, is “essential and ongoing” activity for the deer sector dealing with new regulations from freshwater through carbon and biodiversity to welfare.  They are being run so government staff “know what good practice on a deer farm looks like,” says Lindsay Fung.

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Central Otago deer farmer and veterinarian Amanda (Mandy) Bell has been elected chair of the Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) board. Gerard Hickey, group managing director of First Light Foods, has been elected deputy chair.

Deer 101 day: Otago MPI & Regional Council staff get first-hand experience of deer farming | DINZ hits the road: More than 300 farmers attend successful series of DINZ road trips covering both islands | Netherdale era ending: Leading stud calls time after four decades building quality of NZ antler genetics