Elk and Wapiti Society to celebrate 30 years of contribution to deer industry

Elk and Wapiti Society president John Falconer. Photo / EWS

The Elk and Wapiti Society (EWS) is to mark its 30th anniversary and celebrate its contribution to New Zealand's deer industry, in Wanaka in January next year.

In a press release, president John Falconer said he expected more than 150 people from throughout the country to attend, including many who had been involved with the society and the industry for the past 30 years.

''It's not a huge membership but a passion for the breed has been the over-riding driver,'' Mr Falconer said.

''The activities and achievements are many and varied and while they have been breed-focused, there has been a healthy spillover into industry good.''

He said there had been many colourful individuals involved in the society, including founding president Sir Tim Wallis, scientist Dr Ken Drew and Deer Industry New Zealand's Tony Pearse, all of whom were early members and who now had life memberships.

Dr Drew, of Dunedin, started the deer research programme at Invermay in 1973, which looked at improving venison and velvet production.

''That is how I got involved and I ran up against Tim Wallis,'' Dr Drew said.

As part of that programme, he was given a permit to capture 10 female wapiti and three bucks from the Fiordland National Park, and he asked Sir Tim to catch them for him.

They used a helicopter and were able to select 13 of the best animals among the 600 or so they spotted from the air.

''Tim also flew them to Invermay Research Centre for me.''

Dr Drew said the original 18 elk were imported and released into Fiordland in 1905.

They interbred with the existing red deer population, resulting in a hybrid population known as wapiti.

Elk farming began commercially in the late 1970s and the society was formed in 1986. Sir Tim was voted on as inaugural president.

''I was invited to join the new society because of my background in animal nutrition,'' Dr Drew said.

When Sir Tim resigned as president after four or five years, Dr Drew got the job.

Dr Drew also imported pure-bred elk, which were donated by the Canadian government.

The 30th celebrations will include a tour of Cattle Flat Station, which includes a barbecue lunch with ''The Game Chef'' Angelo Georgalli.

There will also be an evening dinner with guest speakers and awards, as well as haggis and whisky tastings and the society's 20th annual velvet and hard antler competition.