Local Hunting Regulations

Hunting opportunities and access in Northland

The Northland Fish & Game Region extends north from a line midway to a point between the North Head and South Head of the Kaipara Harbour then running due east to a point just North of Wellsford and then a line running northeast to Te Arai Point. The area offers a diverse range of hunting opportunity and encompasses 10 different game bird species. To view the boundary between Northland Fish & Game Region and Auckland/Waikato Region, please click here to download map.To hunt on any private lands, hunters must approach the landowners directly.

To hunt on Forestry lands a permit must be obtained through the office of Northland Fish & Game. The permit is a legal requirement which enables the hunter to carry a firearm and use a dog on those properties.

Please click here to download an application form or email northland@fishandgame.org.nz with your details or writing a letter addressed to Northland Fish & Game office.

Permits:

Hunters must provide details and payment for permits when applying for permits. A permit is required per licence holder and is not issued for a party or any group of hunters. Permits are issued for the full length of the open game season (May to August). 

• Permits issued for the Jack Bisset Wetland incurs a fee of $35.00, and $29.00 of this fee is used for predator control within this wetland.
• Permits issued for the Flaxmill Wetland incurs a fee of $35.00, and $29.00 is used for predator control within this wetland.
• Permits issued for the Te Hiku/Aupouri Forest incurs a fee of $30.00. The breakdown of this permit fee is:
• $14.00 Predator Control Programme
• $6.00 Administration Costs

Northland Forestry Permits

There is ONE permit which will cover all forestry blocks at a cost of $50.00. This permit includes the following forests: Rayonier/Matariki Forests (Glenbervie, Puhipuhi, Topuni), Hancock Forests and Northland Forest Managers. The fees associated with this permit covers all processing fees, colour maps of all forests open to hunting and a Public Liability Insurance while hunting in any of these forests.

Hunters requiring a permit must provide the following details:

• Name, address and phone number/s
• Game Bird Licence number
• Firearms Licence number
• Vehicle registration
• Dog registration number
• Date of Birth

Hunters requiring a permit to take any dog into a hunting area must on application, provide the following details of the dog including the name of dog or dogs, the breed/s and the tag registration number/s.

All permits issued will be accompanied with a full colour topographical map detailing the areas open to hunting.

Fees

Northland Fish & Game

• Jack Bisset Wetland Whangarei $35.00 Stand Holders fee
• Jack Bisset Wetland Whangarei $6.00 Casual Hunters fee
• Flaxmill Wetland Dargaville $35.00 Stand Holders fee
• Flaxmill Wetland Dargaville $6.00 Casual Hunters fee
• Kawakawa Wetlands Kawakawa $6.00
• Borrow Cut Wetland Hikurangi $6.00

Department of Conservation

Hunters who intend to hunt on Conservation managed lands must contact their local DOC office in Northland to obtain a permit:

Whangarei Office: 09-470 3300

Kerikeri Office:  09-407 0300

Dargaville (Kauri Coast) Office:  09-439 3450

Kaitaia Office: 09-408 6014

A permit is required to hunt on DOC-administered lands. The following locations are available for game bird hunting: