Deer Wars RNZ Originals

Deer Wars tells the story of the 50-year struggle to control New Zealand's red deer population. Lives were lost and fortunes made.

Red deer run rampant across the high country in New Zealand, causing extensive environmental damage. A 50-year effort to control the invasive animal gets underway.

The elimination strategy hasn't worked. In 20 years, the cullers have shot perhaps 10% of the deer. It’s time to up the ante.

Suddenly everyone wants to be a culler but who will make the cut?

The arrival of helicopters turns the culling business on its head. Hunters shoot deer from the air and with big money to be made, venison recovery will never be the same.

Shooting from choppers is a game changer but teams are learning from scratch, working at break-neck pace in such dangerous terrain that an accident is always on the cards.