Pastures Past: 1930s calls to protect native forests from deer
Historical records from the 1930s reveal that New Zealand has struggled with deer overpopulation and its impact on native forests for nearly a century. Despite early government efforts to control the population, the issue remains a persistent environmental challenge today.
Why it matters
It highlights the long-term difficulty of managing invasive species and protecting biodiversity in New Zealand.
Deer were widely blamed for damaging New Zealand's native forests. Photo / Unsplash
Kem Ormond takes a look at the world of farming back in the day. In this week’s Pastures Past, she’s found newspaper articles about efforts to control deer and wild goats in New Zealand’s native forests.
For well over a century, there has been clear evidence that deer have caused considerable damage to New Zealand’s native bush.
What was once largely regarded as an issue confined to remote forest areas is now becoming increasingly apparent closer to populated areas, with deer venturing into suburbia and developing a taste for a growing range of exotic garden plants.
Articles published in the Whanganui Chronicle in 1932 and the Levin Daily Chronicle in 1935 record discussions about the control and possible extermination of deer.
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