BurgerFuel is putting Fiordland venison on burger menus across the country from 3 November, and $1 from every one sold goes straight back into the park it came from.
The limited-edition Wild & Wagyu combines wild venison recovered from Fiordland National Park with premium New Zealand Wagyu beef. It was developed in partnership with wild venison company WITHWILD and the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation, whose long-running deer management programme covers more than 190,000 hectares of the park. Introduced deer browse young plants and prevent the regeneration of native ecosystems, so managing the herd is conservation work — and the recovered venison ends up in the patty.
Donald Shepherd, co-founder of WITHWILD, said the collaboration was shifting how people think about wild venison.
"Wild venison is one of New Zealand's best-kept food secrets, but most Kiwis rarely get the chance to eat it. This partnership gives more people the opportunity to experience an incredible local protein while helping protect one of our most iconic landscapes.
"We've always believed conservation and great food can go hand in hand. If we're managing these animals to protect Fiordland, we should be making the best possible use of that meat, not letting it go to waste. Every Wild & Wagyu burger sold helps give back to the place it came from, and that's a win for everyone."
The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation was established in 1993. Earlier this year, the Minister for Hunting and Fishing James Meager announced New Zealand's first 'Herd of Special Interest' Wapiti designation. The Foundation's deer management programme covers more than 190,000 hectares of Fiordland National Park, an area equivalent to around 190,000 rugby fields.
BurgerFuel head of marketing Nikki Soons said the burger built on what the company's previous Wild Heart burger had started.
"We're incredibly proud to have helped raise more than $100,000 for the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation through our previous Wild Heart burger. Wild & Wagyu is the next evolution of that story.
"We've loved the challenge of taking an ingredient that's often overlooked and turning it into something seriously delicious. By combining wild venison with the rich flavour profile of New Zealand Wagyu, the aim is to introduce more Kiwis to just how exceptional wild venison can taste while supporting the conservation work happening in Fiordland."
The custom patty is layered with creamy melted brie, sweet poached New Zealand pears, toasted almonds and fresh rocket, finished with BurgerFuel Plum Sauce and BurgerFuel Aioli. It's priced at $23 and available for a limited time from 3 November at BurgerFuel restaurants nationwide, including the Dee Street store. BurgerFuel will also donate $1 per burger to the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation and The Fiordland Project.
At $23 a burger, that's conservation you can eat.