Fencers and farmers want to save Dannevirke Deer Park: ‘One of the greatest attractions’
There are eight deer at the Dannevirke Deer Park. Photo / Trevor Moore
A community group led by Trevor Moore is taking the next step to save their beloved Dannevirke Deer Park after Tararua District Council announced it would likely be decommissioned.
Moore said he had been joined by a group of around eight or nine people volunteering to donate their time to carry out maintenance work at the park and run it.
“We have got three deer farmers that are really keen to come alongside us, we have got fencers that are willing to put in their time and Turton [Farm Supplies] that will donate all the goods.”
He said someone had also offered to spend a day cutting back overgrown trees.
“When I said I would take it on, I did not envisage just myself doing it; I work as a team; I want a team to work together and it’s going to take a team.
The group met on Wednesday night at the Creators Space in Dannevirke and to form a proposal to take over running it for the next Dannevirke Community Board meeting.
Moore said members of the group were willing to put their own money towards retaining the facility.
Moore said they had also been for a walk around the park on May 15 with the park manager, caretaker and Dannevirke Community Board members Terry Hynes and Ernie Christison.
Chair of the Our Place Dannevirke Incorporated Society, Brendan Hollows, said it was unnecessary to shut the park, so he had joined the group to save it.
“The council may not have the resources to keep caring for it, but the community members do.
“As a collective, we have the expertise and the manpower.”
He said the group was committed to seeing the project out long-term.
“We are not just going to throw a hobby farmer down there to look after the deer with no experience; we want it to be a permanent arrangement.
“This is one of the greatest attractions to Dannevirke that no one knows about, so if we can get the awareness out there, get some advertising out there and actually improve it, I think it’s going to be a huge success.”
Tararua District Mayor Scott Gilmore said earlier in the month the council was open to ideas to save it.
“We’re open to any option that provides a cost-effective and sustainable solution that will keep the park open without requiring significant ratepayer investment and that addresses the other concerns that originally led to the decision to close the park.”
Gilmore said maintaining the facility to modern standards would require significant investment.
This included what the council estimated was a $249,000 spend on fencing upgrades alone, alongside meeting animal welfare requirements and the need for ongoing veterinary and specialist care for the animals.
Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.