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Wellington> Fishing Regulations
Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the framework of national angling regulations.
CONTACT
Office: Palmerston North: 292 Featherston St
Postal Address P O Box 1325, Palmerston North 4440
Phone and Fax (06) 359 0409, Fax (06) 356 2780
Email: admin@wellingtonfishgame.org.nz
Administration: Sue Wray
Regional Manager: Phil Teal
Environmental Officer: Corina Jordan
Senior Field Officer: Steve Pilkington
Field Officer: Nic Cudby
The Wellington Region encompasses the area roughly from Waiouru, across to Norsewood and south to Cook Strait. It includes four large river catchments: the Rangitikei, Manawatu, Ruamahanga, and Hutt which provide a very diverse range of opportunities for principally brown trout river fishing. The Rangitikei and Manawatu rivers have both significant brown and rainbow trout fisheries. The diversity of local angling opportunities ranges from spectacular wilderness backcountry streams in the Kaimanawa, Ruahine, or Tararua Forest Parks to highly productive rivers on the doorstep of urban centres of Wellington, Masterton, and Palmerston North.
INFORMATION FOR ANGLERS
Angler Access
Access in general is one of the key barriers to participation of anglers and hunters, especially when you want to explore new and different sites. Wellington Fish & Game have embarked on a project to improve access information, through production of a new series of information pamphlets and on the ground signage to denote angler access. In most situations we will be endeavouring to match up numbers on the access pamphlets to sign numbers on the ground-to confirm you are actually in the ‘right spot’.
Legal public access along many of the river and streams in the Wellington Fish & Game Region is often fragmented. There are several angler access pamphlets available that are a guide to show where anglers have unencumbered public access and where permission for landholders is required. These are provided for the main river systems and many of their tributaries. Public access is available over much of the lower Rangitikei downstream of the confluence with the Kauwhata but further upstream permission from landowners is generally required. On the Hutt River public access is readily available at various points downstream from
the Akatarawa confluence.
Access information is available for:
- Kapiti Coast Rivers-Otaki, Waikanae, Ohau
- Ruamahanga River
- Waiohine River
- Upper Manawatu River
- Mangatainoka River
- Makuri River
- Pohangina River
- Lower Manawatu River
- Rangitikei River-mid and lower reaches
- Hautapu River
These can be obtained free from any sports fish licence agent or send a self addressed envelope with your request to PO BOX 1325 Palmerston North, or phone 06 359 0409.
RIVERLINE-What’s the river like today? Phone 0900 TROUT – 0900 87688
The ‘RIVERLINE’ information service tells you whether a river is clear or turbid (dirty) and able to be fished or not. It is regularly updated and the information can also be found on the Fish & Game NZ website (www.fishandgame.org.nz) under section Wellington Region/Fishing.
This can save anglers many wasted kilometres of travel. Calls cost 90 cents per minute-to cover costs of service-the number to ring is 0900 TROUT or 0900 87688.
REGULATIONS
Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861
1. DEFINITIONS
See First Schedule.
2. OPEN SEASON, FISHING METHODS, DAILY BAG LIMITS AND LENGTH LIMITS
Permitted Methods definition:
F = Fly fishing only
FS = Fly, Spin fishing only
FSB = Fly, Spin or Bait fishing
Maximum size limit means all trout longer than the specified length must be released.
There is no minimum size limit in any water in the Wellington Fish and Game region.
Lakes / Rivers |
Open Season |
Permitted Methods |
Daily Bag Limits |
Length Limits |
|
All other waters not listed below |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
All coastal dune lakes |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Akatarawa River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Hautapu River upstream from the road bridge numbered 741/1096 on
State Highway 1 by the Taihape
Golf Club |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
F |
1 |
Maximum
550mm |
|
Hautapu River downstream from the road bridge numbered 741/1096 on
State Highway 1 by the Taihape
Golf Club |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Henley, Lake |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Hokowhitu Lagoon (also known as Centennial Lagoon) |
All year |
FSB |
Rainbow or Brown Trout 1
All other sports fish no limit |
None |
|
Hutt River |
All year |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Kahuterawa Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Kawhatau River |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Kopuaranga River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
F |
No limit |
None |
|
Kourarau Dam (Upper) Reservoir |
All Year |
FSB |
Rainbow or Brown Trout 1
All other sports fish no limit |
None |
|
Lake Wairarapa |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Makakahi River, upstream from the road bridge at Eketahuna |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Makakahi River, downstream from the road bridge at Eketahuna |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Makiekie River (Coal Creek) |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Makuri River upstream from the township bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
F |
1 |
Maximum
450mm |
|
Makuri River downstream from the township bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
None |
|
Manawatu River upstream from the Maunga Road Bridge (upstream of Dannevirke) |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
None |
|
Manawatu River downstream from the Maunga Road Bridge (upstream
of Dannevirke) |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Mangaohane Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 550mm |
|
Mangahao River upstream from Marima Reserve Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Mangahao River downstream from Marima Reserve Bridge |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Mangaone River (a tributary of the Tiraumea River) |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Mangaroa River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Mangatainoka River upstream from the Scarborough Konini Road Bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
2 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Mangatainoka River downstream from the Scarborough Konini Road Bridge |
All year |
FS |
2 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Mangatarere Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
F |
1 |
None |
|
Mangatoro River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
F |
No limit |
None |
|
Moawhango River |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Ohau River |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Oroua River and its tributaries upstream from the Ruahine Forest Park boundary |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
None |
|
Oroua River downstream from the Ruahine Forest Park boundary |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Otaki River and its tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
None |
|
Otaki River downstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Pakuratahi Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Pohangina River |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Pourangaki River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Rangitikei River and its tributaries upstream of the Ohinewaione Stream confluence (about 9 river kilometres upstream of the Springvale Bridge) (refer to clause 4 of this part of the notice) |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 550mm |
|
Rangitikei River upstream from the Matawhero Road Bridge (commonly called the Mangaohane Bridge) to the Ohinewaione Stream confluence |
All year |
FS |
2 |
Maximum 550mm |
|
Rangitikei River downstream from the Matawhero Road Bridge (commonly called the Mangaohane Bridge) |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Ruamahunga River and its tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
None |
|
Ruamahunga River downstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Tauherenikau River and its tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
None |
|
Tauherenikau River downstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Tauweru River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Tiraumea River |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Tokomaru River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Turitea Stream |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Upper Kourarau Dam (except all inflowing streams) |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
Maximum 550mm |
|
Waikanae River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
None |
|
Waipoua River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Waingawa River and its tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 550mm |
|
Waingawa River downstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Wainui River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Wainuiomata River downstream from the main township bridge |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
F |
1 |
Maximum 550mm |
|
Waiohine River and its tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FSB |
1 |
None |
|
Waiohine River downstream from the Tararua Forest Park boundary |
All year |
FSB |
No limit |
None |
|
Waitawa, Lake (Otaki) – [Forest Lake] |
All year |
FSB |
Tench 0 |
|
|
Whakatikei River |
1 Oct – 30 Apr |
FS |
1 |
Maximum 450mm |
|
Whitby Lakes |
All year |
FSB |
Tench 0 |
|
3. COARSE FISHING WATERS
- Lake Waitawa (Otaki) (catch & release)
- Upper and Lower Whitby Lakes (catch & release)
- Lake Wairarapa
- Ruamahanga Cut-off
4. WELLINGTON BACKCOUNTRY FISHERIES
The following waters are designated as Backcountry Fisheries, meaning all anglers fishing these waters will need a Backcountry Licence as defined in the Sports Fish Licences, Fees and Forms Notice 2009 and the provisions of that notice apply to this
notice:
- Upper Rangitikei River and its tributaries upstream of the Ohinewaione Stream confluence (about 9 river kilometres upstream of the Springvale Bridge).
To see the latest regulations for all of the North Island (excluding Taupo where fishing is administered by DOC) and South Island, please download the PDFs below.
North Island / South Island | 
