Noticeboard & Events | Issue 217

Feb 12, 2026

Noticeboard

Events

If you have an event that would be of interest to the deer farming industry, please email info@deernz.org with details.

MSD/Allflex Deer Industry Photo Competition - Entries close 28 April
Wormwise for Deer - 25 February, Geraldine
Bayonet Rising Stars 2026 National Hard Antler and Velvet Competition - 7 March, Te Awamutu
Freshwater Farm Planning workshop - 25 February and 11 March, Balclutha
Deer Industry Conference 2026 - 13 May, Palmerston North

NZDFA Matuschka Award

The NZDFA Matuschka Award recognises the grass roots farmer and unsung contributor to local area activities, functions and core spirit of deer farming.

Nominations should be made through the appropriate Branch or can be direct to the convenor. There is no set format or form to nominate someone. The nominations can be informal, from individuals or Branch nominations or industry groups, or have a nomination endorsed by the branch or other individuals and it’s not necessary to advise a candidate of the nomination. 

For more information, click here >>

Nominations must be submitted to the NZDFA via lindsay.fung@deernz.org by 5 pm, Friday 3 April 2026.

Deer Industry Award

The Deer Industry Award is an annual award presented each year to the person, persons jointly, or organisation who, in the opinion of the judges, has made the most outstanding contribution to the New Zealand deer industry, either in the previous year, or over a period of years.

The selection panel is made up of three judges who are the nominees of the following organisations: Countrywide Magazine (NZ Farm Life Media), The NZ Deer Farmers' Association (Inc) and Porter Holdings Ltd.

An nomination form for 2026 can be downloaded here >>

MSD/Allflex Deer Industry Photo Competition

2025 winner: Leeza-Marie Pratt - Sunset roar

It's time to get snapping again! Gather up those great shots you have buried, or head out on the farm with your camera and enter the MSD Animal Health/Allflex Deer Industry Photo Competition.

Entries close 5:00pm, 28 April 2026

See the event page for more details >>

Industry Conference 2026: 13 and 14 May - save the dates

Following on from this year’s Queenstown conference, planning is underway for the 2026 conference with the North Island’s turn to host.

The venue is the Awapuni Racecourse, Palmerston North – the same venue that hosted the DINZ Tech Expo a few years ago. Registration will open in March. The conference format will follow:

Tuesday 12 May:

NZDFA Branch Chairs meeting

Wednesday 13 May:

NZDFA AGM
Industry Conference
Awards Dinner (Photo competition, Matuschka and Deer Industry awards)

Thursday 14 May:

Central Regions DFA Field Trip

Find out more information here >>

Joke of the month

Rookie cop pulls over an old biker…

A rookie police officer pulls an old biker over for speeding:

Officer: May I see your driver's license?

Biker: I don't have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI.

Officer: May I see the owner's card for this vehicle?

Biker: It's not my bike. I stole it.

Officer: The motorcycle is stolen?

Biker: That's right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner's card in the tool bag when I was putting my gun in there.

Officer: There's a gun in the tool bag?

Biker: Yes sir. That's where I put it after I shot and killed the dude who owns this bike and stuffed his dope in the saddle bags.

Officer: There's drugs in the saddle bags too?!?!?

Biker: Yes, sir. Hearing this, the rookie immediately called his captain. The biker was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the biker to handle the tense situation:

Captain: Sir, can I see your license?

Biker: Sure. Here it is. It was valid.

Captain: Who's motorcycle is this?

Biker: It's mine, officer. Here's the registration.

Captain: Could you slowly open your tool bag so I can see if there's a gun in it?

Biker: Yes, sir, but there's no gun in it. Sure enough, there was nothing in the tool bag.

Captain: Would you mind opening your saddle bags? I was told you said there's drugs in them.

Biker: No problem. The saddle bags were opened; no drugs.

Captain: I don't understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn't have a license, stole this motorcycle, had a gun in the tool bag, and that there were drugs in the saddle bags.

Biker: Yeah, I'll bet he told you I was speeding, too.