Hunting in New Zealand was introduced by early European settlers, with the first hunt, the Auckland Hunt Club, being formed in the 1860s. The Pakuranga, established in 1872, is now the oldest hunt. Governor Sir George Grey introduced the first hounds, beagles, in 1868 and introduced hares as a quarry in Pakuranga.
While UK hunt staff jobs run from May to May, the NZ huntsmen (all whippers-in are amateurs) are mostly on a six-month contract, which includes a house and annual fixed-sum financial guarantee. Consequently, most NZ huntsmen have part-time jobs to make it work.
Guy Marriner, in his 10th season as huntsman of the Pakuranga, studied rural land management at RAC Cirencester, which has come in useful: “I also do 45 days a year at the races as clerk…
