Deer Industry NZ says a draft of an updated Deer Code of Welfare, released on Friday for public comment, is a positive forward-looking document.

Since being elected chair of Deer Industry NZ (DINZ) in July, Mandy Bell has been busy talking with farmers, sister organisations and the DINZ team on the breadth of issues facing deer farming in New Zealand. She outlines the DINZ Board’s immediate priorities.

Minister of Agriculture, Hon Damien O’Connor, has challenged the deer industry to grow to become a billion-dollar industry. He was speaking at an event held at Parliament last week to celebrate the success of the Passion2Profit programme, which has just concluded.

Luxury deer nappa leather bags from Wellington bag designer Yu Mei will be launched at New York’s Bergdorf Goodman luxury store this November, following great feedback from international retailers. Yu Mei founder Jessie Wong is a big fan of New Zealand deer leather and says she’ll be championing it.

Passion2Profit, a Primary Growth Partnership programme funded 50/50 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Deer Industry NZ, has resulted in the development of major new markets for NZ farm-raised venison. Farms are more productive and even more environmentally sustainable than have always been. In 2022, after seven years and an investment of $14 million, the programme ended.

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