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 select the links below to fill in a request form or email northland@fishandgame.org.nz with your details or writing a letter addressed to Northland Fish & Game office.

Permits:

Fish & Game Wetland

Forest Permits

• Northland Forestry Permit
• Te Hiku Forest Permit

Department of Conservation

Far North Hunting

Fish & Game Wetlands

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). 

• Jack Bisset Wetland Whangarei $35.00 Stand Holders fee
• Jack Bisset Wetland Whangarei $10.00 Casual Hunters fee
• Flaxmill Wetland Dargaville $35.00 Stand Holders fee
• Flaxmill Wetland Dargaville $10.00 Casual Hunters fee
• Kawakawa Wetlands Kawakawa $10.00
• Borrow Cut Wetland Hikurangi $10.00

Please select here to request a permit for wetlands.

Forest Permits

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

Please select here to request a forest permit.

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
• Northland Forests Managers Ltd

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 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.

Kiwi Aversion Certificate

Please note that a Kiwi Aversion Certificate is required for all hunting dogs that enter forests managed by Hancock Forest and the Northland Forest Managers Ltd.

Kiwi Aversion Certificates can be obtained through the Department of Conservation office in Whangarei. Please contact your local DOC office for information on Kiwi Aversion.

Te Hiku Forest

Permits can be obtained at Hunting & Fishing Kaitaia, Riders Sports Kaitaia and through the Northland Regional Fish & Game office. The cost of the permit for the whole season is $30.00. 

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. There is NO on-line game bird permit system to obtain a DOC permit.