New Zealand provides a wide range of game birds with suitable habitat, from rugged upland scrubland to lush wetlands filled with plant life.

Fish & Game works hard to develop and protect this habitat resource, in order to secure game bird populations for future generations.

Our work includes includes lobbying for appropriate environmental policies, developing and enhancing wetlands, providing advice on predator control and land management, advocating for environmentally sustainable farming practice and improving awareness of New Zealand’s outstanding but threatened wetland resources.

In this section you can read more about our work to protect game bird habitats. You'll also find information on the role hunters, landowners and everyone in New Zealand can play.

Controlling Game Bird Populations

Fish & Game New Zealand manages waterfowl and upland game birds on behalf of recreational hunters. Management of these birds includes setting rules for how many birds can be taken by hunters and at what time of the year. Gamebird species include ducks, swans, pheasants and quail.

High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI)

New Zealand has never had High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) and the current risk for HPAI arriving in New Zealand is considered low.

Wetlands

Swamps, drainage ditches and the like are often looked down upon but they are very important wetland ecosystems containing a vast number of different flora and fauna.