Hunting & Outdoors Club Whanganui rejoins national body, becomes 49th NZ Deerstalkers branch

The Hunting & Outdoors Club Whanganui manages the Peat Park Deer Sanctuary. Photo / NZME

The Hunting & Outdoors Club Whanganui has rejoined the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association after 40 years of estrangement.

The club was established in 1949 and joined the NZDA shortly after.

But in the 1980s there was a disagreement between the Whanganui branch and the national organisation and the two parted ways.

Whanganui’s reintroduction makes it the 49th NZDA club.

Whanganui club president Ian Churchouse said firearm law reform meant it was good timing to rejoin the national body.

“There needs to be some sort of voice,” he said.

The Hunting & Outdoors Club Whanganui manages the Peat Park Deer Sanctuary which includes caring for and maintaining the deer population.

“It’s a major part of our club considering we’ve managed it for so many years,” Churchouse said.

Churchouse said the Whanganui club had 28 members but “we are looking to grow that quite extensively.”

Olivia Reid is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.