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Story: Deer and deer farming

Helicopter wars

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Helicopter wars

At the peak of venison recovery in 1973, exports reached 3,500 tonnes from about 140,000 carcasses. At one stage there were 50 helicopters competing for deer in the southern South Island. Many adopted illegal and often dangerous tactics. Two RNZAF Iroquois helicopters were sent to the region to try to prevent poaching of deer from Fiordland and private properties. This cartoon satirises the air force’s involvement.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Reference: Neville Peat, Hurricane Tim: the story of Sir Tim Wallis. Dunedin: Longacre Press, 2005, p. 110.

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How to cite this page

Ken Drew, Deer and deer farming – From deer stalking to helicopters, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/15802/helicopter-wars (accessed 18 June 2026).

Story by Ken Drew, published 1 March 2009.