The Post July 26

With a hop, skip and a jump, we have landed on the deer edition of the mailer. This July, we traverse the mountain tops of Wānaka to the picturesque fl ats of Canterbury to bring you stories from deer farmers who have their eyes on the future and their hearts grounded in the past. We also give you a play-byplay of our time at Fieldays, where some of the country’s top fencers battled it out for the chance to compete in the UK.

A longstanding stalwart of the deer industry, we first head to Criffel Station in Wānaka, where the Bell family have been farming for generations. Farm manager Henry Bell shares with us their current deer operation, and his Mum, veterinarian and former Deer Industry New Zealand Chair Dr Amanda Bell, provides some insights into the future of deer farming in Aotearoa.

Next, we meet David and Glenda Wiering, who, along with their son Cameron, have expanded their 40-hectare thriving deer farm to work seamlessly alongside a deer transportation business. Their joint venture allows them to efficiently manage both deer farming and transport, with Central Deer Park still serving as the home for their deer, while Central Deer Freighters, now operating five trucks and trailers across the South Island, handling the logistics.

On to Matt Latham of Two Boys Fencing in Canterbury who shows us how he does a wire tie-down, to prevent stock from sneaking under sheep netting.

It was down to the wire at Fieldays 2026, where Tony Bouskill and his dad Shane Bouskill took out the Silver SpadesTM Doubles Championship, and Tony Bouskill came home with the Golden PliersTM by WIREMARK® Singles Championship win. Brilliant weather and an upbeat crowd made for a great few days at Mystery Creek.

This month’s State of the Industry provides a current snapshot of New Zealand’s deer sector, with insights from key leaders and contributors helping shape where it’s headed.