Sep 13, 2024
Is DINZ the same as NZDFA?
The New Zealand deer farming story is unique and quite special as the country’s youngest pastoral industry creating value from what was formerly a wild animal and “noxious pest”. A great short history is provided in the Encyclopaedia of New Zealand (Te Ara: https://teara.govt.nz/en/deer-and-deer-farming).
Page 3 outlines how deer farming started with the first licence to farm being granted in 1969 and the formation of the New Zealand Deer Farmers’ Association (NZDFA) in 1975 with 25 founding members.
Some ten years later after lobbying from the NZDFA and deer researchers at Invermay the Game Industry Board was established by the government under the Game Industry Board Regulations 1985. Deer Industry New Zealand (DINZ) succeeded the Game Industry Board with the introduction of the Deer Industry New Zealand Regulations 2004.
However, even today many people within the industry are still unclear as to what are the differences between NZDFA and DINZ or even if they aren’t the same organisation.
Put simply NZDFA is first and foremost an organisation that represents deer farmers and its income is derived from membership subscriptions. DINZ on the other hand is an organisation that is set up under government regulation as a statutory marketing authority that represents farmers and processors (venison and velvet). The NZDFA used to collect a commodity levy but with the creation of DINZ this was set to zero with an understanding that DINZ would provide the Producer Manager role to support the running of the NZDFA and be a conduit between the two organisations. This support is outlined by a Service Agreement between DINZ and the NZDFA.
So, it is quite understandable that there is a lot of common ground between both organisations that seek to represent deer farmers’ interests.
Common ground is good – it means that the organisations can work together towards a shared goal or vision, and it can also mean that deer farmers may get more opportunity to have their views represented (with NZDFA and DINZ providing input or representation in pan-industry groups). However sometimes it is important for the farmer voice to strongly emphasise an opinion or approach that might be more muted at an industry-wide level. A recent example of this is where NZDFA supported a DINZ submission on greenhouse gas emission reduction targets but further emphasised the disproportionate impact this would have on deer farmers and their local communities.
One other point of difference is the method of governance. DINZ has a board whose composition is set in the regulations (four directors appointed by the NZDFA, three directors appointed venison processors and marketers, and one director appointed by velvet and co-product processors and marketers). NZDFA has a 16 branch network and a national Executive Committee (four members elected by all full NZDFA members as specified in the NZDFA Constitution). The Executive Committee is required to consult with the branch network and report back on issues or actions.
NZDFA operates as a grass-roots farmer-led organisation and thus provides DINZ with a valuable and authentic view of farmer sentiment, priorities and concerns.
