1	Title
2	Commencement
3	Principal Act
	Part 1 Amendment to principal Act
4	Section 16 amended (Minister may designate herds of special interest)
	Part 2 Consequential amendment to National Parks Act 1980
5	Principal Act
6	Section 4 amended (Parks to be maintained in natural state, and public to have right of entry)
	Legislative history
	Administrative information

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:

1 Title

This Act is the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Act 2026.

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force on the day after Royal assent.

3 Principal Act

This Act amends the Game Animal Council Act 2013.

Part 1 Amendment to principal Act

4 Section 16 amended (Minister may designate herds of special interest)

After section 16(3), insert:

(3A)

If a herd of special interest is designated in a national park, section 4(2)(b) of the National Parks Act 1980 does not apply to that herd.

(3B)

To avoid doubt, section 4(2)(b) of the National Parks Act 1980 does not limit the Minister’s power to make a designation under subsection (1).

Part 2 Consequential amendment to National Parks Act 1980

5 Principal Act

This Part amends the National Parks Act 1980.

6 Section 4 amended (Parks to be maintained in natural state, and public to have right of entry)

After section 4(2), insert:

(3)

See section 16(3A) of the Game Animal Council Act 2013, which provides that, if a herd of special interest is designated in a national park, subsection (2)(b) does not apply to that herd.

Legislative history

12 May 2025		Introduction (Bill 151–1)
24 June 2025		First reading and referral to Environment Committee
21 October 2025		Reported from Environment Committee (Bill 151–2)
18 November 2025		Second reading
23 June 2026		Committee of the whole House
25 June 2026		Third reading
30 June 2026		Royal assent

This Act is administered by the Department of Conservation.

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Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Act 2026