Hunters want to help protect the country's conservation estate, but say they need to be included in conversations about culling deer, pigs and goats.
Forest & Bird has created a series of maps from official data, showing virtually all conservation land on mainland New Zealand, and large areas of privately owned land, are under attack from herds of wild deer, pigs, or goats.
It says the feral animals are affecting important carbon sinks and the ecological integrity of native forests.
The Game Animal Council chair Grant Dodson told Māni Dunlop he agreed there were increasing numbers of these wild animals but says it's important that everyone - especially hunters - is part of the planning of a management plan.
