Section 14 of the Wildlife Act 1953 states, (in part and slightly amended for clarity):
“While any (Wildlife Refuge) remains in force, it shall not be lawful for any person, (unless specifically exempted), to hunt or kill for any purpose, or molest, capture, disturb, harry, or worry any wildlife in the wildlife refuge, or to take, destroy, or disturb the nests, eggs, or spawn of any such wildlife, or for any person to bring onto the wildlife refuge or have in his possession or discharge in the wildlife refuge any firearm or explosive, or have in his possession or control in the wildlife refuge any dog or cat, or to do anything likely to cause any wildlife to leave the wildlife refuge”.
Clearly none of us want to be sitting in a jail for up to 1 year and/or wondering how we got to be up-to $100,000 poorer. So, knowing exactly where Wildlife Refuge boundaries are in advance has got to be a smart move. Not all of them are well signposted or even signposted at all, in part thanks to road-sign thieves.
Do not cross into a Wildlife Refuge with a gun or dog, (or a cat!), or in any way disturb the wildlife in them. If a Wildlife Refuge occurs on private land the landowner can sometimes be exempted in part and in writing to allow for normal farming operations such as pest control.
Closed Game Areas, (which are listed in the regulation booklet that you should have received with your gamebird licence purchase), are slightly different to Wildlife Refuges. The owner of a Closed Game Area and any visitor having their permission, is entitled to have a dog or a gun on them for shooting rabbits, possums, any other pests or even paper targets. But a Closed Game Area effectively has a closed gamebird season year-round and no one, (including the landowner), should be shooting gamebirds on that listed property at any time.
If you have any questions at all about any Wildlife Refuge or any Closed Game Area in the Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game Council region, please contact Fish & Game staff who will make every effort to put you right – preferably in advance of any issues arising!
Miranda-Taramaire Wildlife Refuge.
NZG 09.04.87, No52, p1627.
22.8267 hectares.
Lake Kopuera, (previously known as Lake Rangiriri), in Rangiriri.
NZG 23.04.81, No46, p1132.
83.4500 hectares.
Te Kauwhata Wildlife Refuge.
NZG 15.06.61, No38, p837.
1,020 acres.
Lake Waikare (part only).
NZG 26.05.88, No89, p1266.
Area not given.
Wharekawa Harbour, northern entrance tip, Whangamata North, Coromandel.
NZG 26.10.67, No68, p1857, also NZG 17.11.83, No1982, p4010.
16 acres.
Lake Hakanoa, Huntly.
NZG 01.12.19833, No202, p4169 and others.
67.6450 hectares plus additions.
Lake E, (Hurrell’s Lake), part only, near Hamilton.
NZG 03.06.65, No31, p902.
8.0100 hectares.
Raglan Watercare Waste Water Treatment Plant.
NZG 16.05.57, No38, p825.
59 acres.
A.C. Allen Estate, Horrell Road, Morrinsville.
NZG 28.09.61, No61, p1481.
540 acres.
Water Conservation Reserve, Waterworks Road, Morrinsville.
NZG 04.04.40, No30, p649 and NZG 14.11.40, N116, p3413.
101 acres.
‘Wharepuhunga’, private farm off Lethbridge Road, near Otorohanga.
NZG 07.08.58, No48, p1027.
572 acres.
Cowan Wildlife Refuge, east of Te Kuiti.
NZG 18.04.85, No69, p1662.
1,253.9690 hectares.
Meyer Wildlife Refuge.
NZG Not known.
476.4162 hectares.
Takangaroa (Goat) Island.
NZG no. 10, 8 February 1962, p. 250
5 acres
Straka’s Lagoon.
NZG no. 80, 1967, p.2205
9 acres
Papakanui Spit.
NZG no. 52, 20 September 1956, p. 1292
7 acres
Albany Watercare
NZG no. 34, 25 May 1961, p. 1884
269 acres
Puhinui Creek
NZG no. 59, 24 September 1964, p. 1587
Ponui Island
NZG no. 42, 9 July 1964, p. 1108
4.373 acres
Clevedon
NZG no. 76, 10 December 1959, p. 1884
37 acres
Lake Pokorua
NZG no. 68, 9 July 1940, p. 1889
Pukekohe Watercare, a & b.
NZG no. 16 October 1961, p. 1607
Murrays Rd, Pukekawa.
Miranda-Taramaire
Te Kauwhata
Lake Kopuera
Lake Waikare (Be sure to include the bit where Helen Calrk says “God Save The Queen”).
Wharekawa entrance tip. (a & b, in 2 parts).
Lake Hakanoa
Lake E/Hurrell’s.
Raglan
AC Allen Morrinsville
Morrinsville Waterworks
Wharepuhunga
Cowan