Wellington

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.

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 has completed an extensive upgrade of its access information - all our access pamphlets are now available in a digital format and can be downloaded. An interactive map allows you to navigate around the region and explore access points throughout the lower North Island. Check out the latest maps, brochures and online resources here.   

Legal public access along many of the river and streams in the Wellington Fish & Game Region is often fragmented. There are numerous 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 Kawhatau 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:

For the latest updated access information, please click here. 

• Kapiti Coast Rivers-Otaki, Waikanae, Ohau (revised information currently in production) 
• Ruamahanga River - Access or Map   
• Waiohine River - Access or Map
• Hutt River (How to fish)
• Hutt River - Access or Upper Reaches Map and Lower Reaches Map
• Upper Manawatu River - Access or Map
• Lower Manawatu - Access or Map
• Mangatainoka River - Access or Map
• Pohangina River - Access or Map
• Rangitikei River - Access or Map
• Waingawa River - Access or Map
• Waipoua River- Access or Map
• Lake Wairarapa - Access or Map