This year’s Kaimanawa wild horse muster in New Zealand’s Central North Island will proceed after the Department of Conservation (DoC) reversed its initial decision not to fund the event. The muster, which aims to control the horse population to a sustainable level of around 300, will remove approximately 149 horses from the wild. This intervention is crucial to prevent the population from ballooning to an estimated 1,100 in three years, which would likely lead to culling as the only population control method. Charities involved in horse welfare had faced challenges in funding the muster, which costs between $80,000 and $130,000, but DoC agreed to cover the expenses and incorporate immunocontraception for fertility control on 50 horses.

The DoC’s decision followed negotiations with charities and stakeholders, including iwi and the Defence Force, aiming to balance conservation priorities with horse welfare. The department is exploring new population management strategies to potentially eliminate the need for future musters. Meanwhile, charities are focused on rehoming the horses removed during the muster, although applications have been low so far. The Kaimanawa wild horses have been part of the region for over a century, and maintaining their numbers is essential to protect rare plant species and preserve genetic diversity within the herd.