Know your town

Deer stalking around Martinborough

New Zealand is indebted to Prince Albert for donating some of Windsor Park’s Deer to this country in 1862. Six red deer were forwarded by the New Zealand Agent in London, a Stag and two hinds for Canterbury and the same number for Wellington. Unfortunately a Stag and Hind died on the way and so  they all ended up in Wellington in 1863.

C R carter took possession of them and had them delivered to his Wairarapa property by W Hastwell where  James Robieson was put in charge of their care. John Martin obtained breeding stock from them for his Puratanga property where they flourished . From time to time animals escaped and took off into the bush of the Mungaraki ranges and then down into the Haurangi ranges.

A public notice gazetted April 1886: ‘Only stags and bucks may be shot in the Wellington/Wairarapa District between  April 10^th and  May 10^th 1886’ Over the next ten years the Acclinatisiation Society  went into the ranges beyond Martinborough to secure  young fawns  for government  liberation  in the Waikaremoana and Manawatu. These along with stock from John Martin’s property.

Licences to shoot red deer were let. Only up to eight pointers could be shot and no hinds. At one pound each (today’s equivalent $201) only six licences were purchased.

By 1902 farmers were complaining that their properties were becoming overrun by deer and requested permission to slaughter up to four hundred. At the same time the Tourist Department was lobbying the Minister of Lands  to close 30,000 acres from Palliser Bay as a deer Reserve area. This to be closed to everybody except those with a Tourist Department permit. This did not happen although the Dept repeated the request in 1905.

From 1903 seasons were good and several local residents ( McDonalds, McLeods , Ross Harris, Martin’s Cameron, Sutherland) offered  their services as guides at a guinea ($200)  a time. New Zealand and overseas stalkers were successful. Two Christchurch stalkers  bagged the best head of the season with a fourteen point with a thirty inch spread. This was mounted by local taxidermist Jack Ross.

Newspaper of the day reported: ‘ Governor and Vice Regal party taken to John Martin’s property  to learn of  the excellent sport in the vicinity of Martinborough. No deer shot, only looked at, but plenty of ducks, pigs and fowl.’ 

Another report of May 1896; ‘ Death of Lord Roderick a wary old stag with very good head and been in the district for the last six years. He was shot at the junction of  Coal Creek and Pukeatua Stream, Te Awaiti Station.’

Not all deer stalking tourist excursions went to plan . On 6^th April 1904 a solicitor , J C Andrew didn’t return from deer stalking at Whatarangi Station. His body was found down a cliff two days later, he had several broken bones however an inquest found he had eventually died from Starvation. 

The outback country is still popular with deer stalkers.

Mate Higginson