Know an aspiring junior hunter?
We’re excited to offer 8 lucky junior aspiring game bird hunters the opportunity to join us for an incredible weekend at one of two stunning wetlands in Central Hawkes Bay.
These wetlands are the jewel in the crown for Hawkes Bay hunters. Die-hard game bird hunters around the country dream of places like these to hunt in, and it's great to be able to offer them in fostering the next generation of hunters.
The competition is open to young people aged 14 to 17, ideally with some experience with firearms but who may not have had the chance to go game bird hunting.
Aspiring young hunters can enter the competition, which includes two days of hunting the outstanding established wetlands on farms near Waipukurau on the weekend of 24-25 May.
To enter, these young people need to fill in the entry form and write about 500 words explaining why they would love to win and why they would not normally have the opportunity for this experience.
Fish & Game Chief Executive Corina Jordan said, “It will be an absolute privilege for us and the landowners to host eight keen aspiring junior hunters at these two outstanding properties. Many adult hunters will remember the expectation and excitement of childhood, getting up in the dark, having a cooked breakfast, and then going off to the maimai. I am very much looking forward to sharing that experience with our winners.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create lasting memories in the great outdoors.”
The weekend will include early morning and afternoon hunting adventures. Former New Zealand clay bird shooting champion Dave Hearn will take the winners through firearms safety and a clay bird shoot. All accommodation and meals, including a duck dinner, will be provided.
“We have so many passionate young people in New Zealand who would love the opportunity to experience game bird hunting. Gerald Wilson and Ben Wilson are passionate about supporting the next generation of hunters, so they are offering the use of their spectacular wetlands.
Gerald Wilson, himself a keen game bird hunter, began creating the 20 hectares of wetlands on his Kanui Station near Tikokino and satellite farm at Waipukurau in the 1990s. The largest has 10.2 ha of water.
Fed by underground and spring water, these are now home to dozens of different kinds of birds. These include grey ducks, mallards, brown teal, shovelers and paradise ducks, as well as royal spoonbills, pied stilts, bittern, cranes and herons, including the critically endangered Kōtuku White Heron.
Ben Wilson has been developing wetlands on his farm for the past 25 years, all adjacent to the Makaretu River and fed by underground streams. These are now populated by an extensive array of ducks, swans and other waterfowl and much other bird life.
Both farmers’ wetland programmes have included extensive riparian planting, with many native plants, and Gerald and Ben have worked with Fish & Game on several of their larger wetland projects.
Fish & Game’s National Council oversees the New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Trust programme. $5 from every licence goes to the Game Bird Habitat Trust, which provides funding to help create and enhance habitats for the benefit of game birds and other wildlife. Around 30 ha of land per year is restored or protected this way.
Event Details:
Winners will be drawn for an exclusive weekend at either Ben Wilson's or Gerald Wilson's Wetlands, just 10 minutes from Waipukurau.
- Applications must be lodged by 5 pm on Friday 11 April
- The lucky winners will be drawn & notified on Friday 25th April 2025.
- Date Saturday 24th May - Sunday 25th May
- Location: Ben Wilson's or Gerald Wilson's Wetlands, Central Hawkes Bay
- Time: Winners will be welcomed from 1 pm Saturday at the Duck Lodge at Gerald Wilson’s property and depart from 3 pm Sunday.
Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create lasting memories in the great outdoors! Enter now for your chance to win!
Some images of the amazing wetlands our winners will be visiting
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Competition Terms & Conditions
Winners are responsible for their own transport to and from the Central Hawke's Bay properties. Only juniors will be permitted to hunt and may have had some firearms experience but not necessarily game bird hunting. They will be supervised by a licenced firearms holder, and shotguns will be provided. If you already have a shotgun and want to use it, let us know so we can cater for it. Juniors will be under direct supervision while hunting. If you are unable to attend, please notify us as soon as possible so we can re-allocate your space. Images and videos from the weekend will be used by Fish & Game for promotional purposes. All ammunition will be supplied.