Our History
Established in 1949
Our History
The original Deer Stalkers Association was formed in 1949, marking the beginning of a long history of hunting and outdoor recreation in the Whanganui region.
Around three years later, the club became part of the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA) branch network. In the mid-1980s, the club parted ways with NZDA and became the Wanganui and Districts Hunters and Stalkers Club.
Over the following decades, the club continued to grow and evolve. In March 2020, we rebranded as the Hunting and Outdoors Club Whanganui, reflecting our expanding range of activities and our desire to attract and support a wider membership.
In September 2024, members made the joint decision to rejoin the New Zealand Deerstalkers’ Association (NZDA), strengthening the opportunities, resources and support available to our club and members.
Today, the NZDA Whanganui Branch is proud to be part of NZDA’s nationwide network of clubs. With a proud history stretching back more than 75 years, we are committed to supporting responsible hunting, promoting safe firearms use, and encouraging respect for New Zealand’s natural environment.
We’re also focused on the future — continuing to grow our membership, develop new opportunities and evolve with the needs of our hunting and outdoor community.
Whether you’re an experienced hunter, just starting out, or simply interested in learning more about hunting and the outdoors, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch today and become part of our story.
Whanganui Peat Park Deer Sanctuary Management
Our Community Involvement
The Whanganui Peat Park Deer Sanctuary is actively managed by our Club, on behalf of the Whanganui District Council. The park is listed as a tourist attraction for visitors to Whanganui.
Part of the management of the park is that the Club maintain a clean TB free bloodline, manage stock feed and grazing so that the deer have a healthy and balanced diet, to make sure the deer are healthy presentable deer and fit for purpose as an attraction for Whanganui. The Club is responsible for the maintenance of the fences and the grounds of the Deer Parks, as well as maintaining a healthy balanced number of deer at all time.
Peat Park is an established park with wide open spaces and large trees at the base of Christie’s Hill on Peat Street, Aramoho.
In 1911 the park was gifted to the children of Whanganui by David Peat, who believed that schools did not provide adequately for children to play. It has picnic tables and two play areas, with a climbing frame for older children. This park offers the unique opportunity to get up close with deer.
Toilets and drinking fountains are on-site. (Discovery Whanganui, 2023)