Taranaki > Hunting Regulations

Gamebird Hunting Regulations and Guides are updated annually. Please be aware at all times of local and national regulations to ensure the safety of others and the sustainability of Gamebird Hunting.

Special Seasons Calendar

2.1 Areas B and C only: 28 February – 1 March 2009 inclusive, 6.30am to 7.30pm. Daily bag limit: Paradise Shelduck 10.

3.1 Area B only: 28 February – 22 March 2009 inclusive, 24-hour hunting allowed. Daily bag limit: Canada goose 10.

3.2 Area C only: 1 February – 22 March 2009 inclusive, 24-hour hunting allowed. Daily bag limit: Canada goose 20.

4.1 Area A: That area within the following boundary commencing at Waiaruhe Road. Then by that road, Owhakura Road, Whangaehu Valley Road and Fields Track to Kakatahi. Then by straight lines to Pipiriki and Tawhata. Then by Tawhata Road to the boundary. Then by the generally eastern boundary of the region to Waiaruhe Road.

4.2 Area B: That area within the following boundary commencing at Waiaruhe Road. Then by that road, Owhakura Road, Whangaehu Valley Road and Fields Track to Kakatahi. Then by straight lines to Pipiriki and Makakaho Junction down the eastern bank of the Waitotara River to the sea. Then by the sea coast and generally eastern boundary of the region to Waiaruhe Road.

4.3 Area C: The balance of the region contained by the westerly boundaries of Area A and B and the sea coast between the Mokau River and Waitotara River mouths.

6.30am to 6.15pm, except that Canada geese may be hunted or killed 24 hours per day from 30 June to 28 September 2008.

No limit.

Permitted.

HUNTING IN TARANAKI

WATERFOWL

The Taranaki Region has many rivers, streams, creeks and ponds that provide good habitat for waterfowl. This translates into consistently good shooting and Taranaki hunters are among the most successful in the North Island.

Mallard duck is the predominant game species, accounting for some 56% of all waterfowl harvested. In 2008, the dry La Nina weather pattern has concentrated Mallards onto permanent water wetlands, lakes, streams, rivers and farm oxidation ponds and jump shooting as well as the traditional pond shooting from mai mai should be productive. Mallards will be seeking out additional food supplies in stubble fields and where supplements are being fed to stock and these areas should also provide good shooting, particularly in the evenings.

Paradise shelduck are widespread throughout the region and they make up about 38% of the waterfowl harvest. Paradise numbers have been trending downwards in the Waimarino district near Mt Ruapehu and to allow the population to recover, a reduced 5-bird daily bag limit has applied in Game Management Area A since 2004. For 2008, a 10-bird limit has been set for opening weekend (3 - 4 May) in Area A to give hunters more opportunity, with a 5-bird limit retained for the rest of season (5 May – 29 June). Paradise populations in the rest of the region remain in good heart, though January moult counts were below average in the Huinga, Huiroa and Tahora areas east of Stratford. A 10-bird daily bag limit continues to apply for Paradise shelduck in Areas B and C for the whole of the 2008 season.

Canada goose numbers on the Taranaki ringplain are still a little higher than Fish & Game would like, with around 780 geese residing in the coastal strip between Waitara and Manutahi, south of Hawera. The main season for Canada geese in Area C runs through to 28 September 2008, with the daily bag limit raised to 20. The summer season for Canada geese will also begin a month early in Area C, running from 1 February – 22 March 2009, again with a daily bag limit of 20. There are also good Canada goose hunting opportunities in the Waimarino district (Area A) and in several coastal dune lakes north and south of Wanganui. The daily bag limit for Canada geese in Areas A & B remains at 10, with a 7-week extended season through to 17 August 2008. Hunting hours for geese have been liberalised to allow hunting on moonlit evenings from 30 June onwards.

Pukeko are widespread throughout the region and farmers will welcome a harvest of Pukeko from wetlands adjacent to maize growing or other cropping areas, where they have been causing an increasing amount of damage. The season for Pukeko runs through to 17th August 2008, to give hunters time to undertake Pukeko drives after the end of the duck season. The daily bag limit for Pukeko remains at 5.

Black swan can be harvested throughout the Taranaki region from opening day, though the daily bag limit remains at 1 swan per hunter.

While there are few public hunting areas in the Taranaki region, there are plenty of places to hunt waterfowl on private land - it’s simply a matter of asking landholders for access. Once a hunter establishes a record of responsible behaviour, there is usually no problem obtaining permission to hunt in subsequent seasons.

WAIMARINO /RUAPEHU (AREA A)

This great gamebird area has a large number of farm ponds, which, in conjunction with grassland and cropping areas, provide good shooting for Paradise shelduck and Mallard duck. There is also a population of Canada geese residing in the Raetihi - Karioi area. While numbers of Paradise shelduck have declined in the Waimarino in recent years, pastoral farmers and vegetable growers will still welcome a harvest of Paradise from areas of new grass and crops. A daily bag limit for Paradise shelduck of 10 birds per hunter for opening weekend will allow a modest increase in harvest over 2007. Please note that the bag limit for Paradise remains at 5 birds per day for the rest of season in Area A.

WANGANUI (AREA B)

Wanganui has a number of coastal dune lakes that provide good hunting for Mallard duck, Paradise shelduck, Black swan and Canada goose. There are also a significant number of hill country farm ponds that provide good hunting areas. Walking the streams or drifting down the larger rivers in a dinghy can also be productive.

A special season for Paradise shelduck and Canada goose is usually held in the Wanganui area in early March to disperse birds after the moult. Please contact the Wanganui office in early February for details. To participate in the special season, hunters must hold a game licence and obtain a permit. A $5 administration fee applies to all hunters, except those occupiers who hunt on the land they occupy.

TARANAKI PROVINCE (AREA C)

This area contains more than 1,500 lakes, ponds and wetlands – the majority on private land. Fewer landowners are hunting these days and licence holders who are prepared to visit farmers to ask for access should have no difficulty in obtaining a place to hunt.

Mallard populations are currently concentrated onto areas of permanent water and after the traditional opening weekend pond shooting, Mallards will seek refuge on the region’s many streams, rivers and farm oxidation ponds where jump shooting, or morning or evening shoots will be productive. Paradise shelduck are also in good heart on the coastal ringplain and dune lakes down to Waitotara and birds will congregate in paddocks where supplements such as maize silage are being fed to stock and on areas of new grass and recovering pasture.

A Canada goose population of 780 birds is centred on the lakes and wetlands near New Plymouth. While several reserves frequented by the birds are closed to hunting, geese can be targeted when they feed on adjacent farmland. Canada geese have also been visiting the coastal area between New Plymouth and Hawera more frequently in recent times. Season conditions are liberal for Canada geese in Area C, with a 20-bird daily bag limit and a 21-week main season through to 28 September 2008. Organised hunts, in which geese are flushed off New Plymouth reserve areas, will be held on at least three Sunday mornings in July, August and September, but it is up to hunters to organise their own access.

A special season for Paradise shelduck and Canada geese has been held in the Taranaki provincial area in recent years. Please contact the Wanganui or New Plymouth offices of Fish and Game NZ in mid-January for details of the Canada goose season and in mid-February for Paradise shelduck. To participate in the special season hunters must hold a game licence and obtain a permit. A $5 administration fee applies to all hunters, except those occupiers who hunt on the land they occupy.

UPLAND GAME

Scattered populations of Pheasant and California quail are present in coastal sand country, in pine plantations and in areas of bush and scrub, such as those adjacent to streams and rivers. Many of these areas are on private farmland and the appropriate permission should be sought. Favourable breeding conditions in recent years have meant that areas of good habitat are currently holding reasonable numbers of pheasant.

Permits are available at a cost of $5 from Taranaki Region offices for upland game hunting in a number of Wanganui coastal forests, including Lismore, Harakeke, the Justice Block and Nukumaru Recreation Reserve

To download the latest national regulations, please click on North Island or South Island