New Zealand Appoints Lisa Chase and Simon Cameron to Game Animal Council

The New Zealand Government has added Lisa Chase and Simon Cameron to the Game Animal Council (GAC) for one‑year terms beginning 1 October 2026. The appointments aim to broaden the council’s expertise and strengthen community links for the country’s largest hunter‑led game animal management initiatives. Chase, a trustee of the Waihi Pukawa Trust and former trustee of the Owhaoko B&D Trust, will help connect the GAC with local communities involved in the Sika Herd of Special Interest (HOSI) in the central North Island. Cameron, a former Federated Farmers president and experienced hunter and guide, will focus on linking farmers and hunters, improving hunting access, and supporting sustainable deer population management, especially around the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation. These changes complement recent GAC appointments, including Chair Paula Bennett and chair Matt Clarke, reinforcing the council’s statutory role in game animal governance.