Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions
Under sections 15 and 16 of the Wildlife Act 1953, the Minister of Conservation declares an open season for game in the Fish and Game Regions from 4 May 2019 to 1 May 2020 inclusive, subject to the conditions specified in the First and Second Schedules of this notice.
The Minister of Conservation gives consent, under section 17(2) of the Wildlife Act 1953, to the hunting or killing of game in the manner set out in this notice.
A game bird habitat stamp must1 be affixed to every licence to hunt or kill game or (in the case of licences issued electronically or in the form of plastic cards) a reproduction of the stamp incorporated within it. The following form of the 2019 Game Bird Habitat Stamp is approved2.
The 2019 Game Bird Habitat Stamp has a face value of ten dollars ($10.00). A fee of three dollars ($3.00) only is payable3 for every game bird habitat stamp supplied with a licence to hunt or kill game.
First Schedule | Hunting conditions generally common to all Fish and Game Regions. |
Second Schedule | Regionally specific hunting conditions, bag limits, closed and open game areas, and the like. |
A person4 may hunt or kill game of the family Anatidae (waterfowl) during the open season for game in all Fish and Game Regions, except Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game Region, where food has been cast, thrown, placed or planted any time during the year. In the Second Schedule, Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game Region, Special Condition 4(9), applies to restrictions on baiting.
A person may hunt or kill game birds, as specified, in any Fish and Game Regions with any magazine shotgun of a calibre 10 gauge or less, which includes magazine extensions5, other than in the:
For these six Regions special conditions in the Second Schedule apply.
No person shall use, in any shotgun used for the purposes of hunting and killing game, any cartridge containing any shot size having a larger retained, per-pellet energy at 90 metres than lead BB.
Hunters are encouraged not to use lead shot in shotguns of a bore smaller than 12 gauge (including 16, 20, 28 gauge) or muzzle loaders within 200 metres of all waterways and wetlands for the 2019 season.
This remains voluntary in 2019 for smaller-gauge users but will become mandatory (lead shot prohibited) for the 2020 season across all Department of Conservation and Fish and Game administered lands. In 2021 lead shot will be prohibited for all licence holders (irrespective of gauge used) across all lands (public and private) hunting gamebirds within 200 metres of all waterways and wetlands.
A person6 may hunt or kill game within the following Fish and Game Regions, from unmoored camouflaged rowboats, subject to the excluded periods for the regions specified below:
Northland – no excluded period
Auckland/Waikato – excluding 4 and 5 May 2019
Eastern – excluding 4 and 5 May 2019
Hawke’s Bay – excluding 4 and 5 May 2019
Taranaki – no excluded period
Wellington – excluding 4 and 5 May 2019
Nelson/Marlborough – no excluded period
West Coast – no excluded period
North Canterbury – excluding 4 and 5 May 2019
Central South Island – excluding 4 and 5 May 2019
Otago – excluding Clutha River 4 to 12 May 2019 inclusive
Southland – excluding the Mataura, Aparima, Oreti, Waiau and Waimatuku rivers and their tributaries 4 to 31 May 2019 inclusive.
No person shall use any vehicle propelled by mechanical power (including motorised watercraft)7 to chase or kill game, except in such circumstances and at such times as authorised by the Conservation Act 1987 and Wildlife Act 1953.
These conditions will expire at the end of the open season for game specified under the Second Schedule for each Fish and Game Region.
1. Game That May Be Hunted or Killed—Duration of the 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of that species |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
12 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
3 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 4 Aug 2019 |
25 |
All areas |
22 Feb and 23 Feb 2020 |
20 |
All areas |
|
Black swan |
4 May to 4 Aug 2019 |
15 |
All areas |
22 Feb 2020 to 1 Mar 2020 |
15 |
All areas |
|
Pukeko |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
12 |
All areas |
22 Feb 2020 to 1 Mar 2020 |
12 |
All areas |
|
California and brown quail |
4 May to 4 Aug 2019 |
10 |
Area A |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
Rest of region |
|
Cock pheasant |
4 May to 4 Aug 2019 |
3 |
Area A |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
Rest of region |
2. Definition of Area A
All lands north of a line along the north-western shoreline of the Whangape Harbour, then to and along the main ridgeline of the Maungataniwha Range, and then to and along the north-western shoreline of the Whangaroa Harbour.
3. Shooting Hours
4. Decoy Limit
No limit.
5 Special Conditions
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey, mallard and shoveler duck: A maximum total bag not exceeding 10 birds for all species combined and no more than the individual bag limit for each species. |
|||
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
4 May to 3 Jun 2019 |
10 |
All areas, except that no duck may be hunted on Great Barrier Island |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 3 Jun 2019 |
2 |
All areas, except that no duck may be hunted on Great Barrier Island |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 23 Jun 2019 |
10 |
The region south of Auckland Harbour Bridge |
4 May to 23 Jun 2019 |
20 |
The region north of Auckland Harbour Bridge |
|
Pukeko |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Black swan |
4 May to 23 Jun 2019 |
20 |
The region west of State Highway 1 and north of State Highway 22 (Glenbrook Road), Constable and Karioitahi Roads |
4 May to 23 Jun 2019 |
5 |
In the Otorohanga, Waitomo and Ruapehu District Council areas within the Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game Council region including the Aotea Harbour. |
|
4 May to 23 Jun 2019 |
1 |
All other areas (except that no Black swan may be hunted or killed on the Waikato Hydro Lakes: Karapiro, Arapuni and Waipapa) |
|
Bobwhite (Virginian) quail, California and Brown Quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
3 |
All areas |
Red legged partridge |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All Areas |
2. Shooting Hours
6.30am to 6.30pm.
3. Decoy Limit
No limit, except on Lake Waikare and Lake Rotokauri – a total decoy limit of 50 decoys per stand and no decoys to be placed within 50 metres of those placed by another hunter. Furthermore, on Lake Rotokauri a total limit of no more than 2 battery powered decoys per stand.
4. Special Conditions
5. Closed Game Areas
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck |
4 May to 3 Jun 2019 |
8 |
All areas except the Reporoa Area |
4 May to 3 Jun 2019 |
4 |
The Reporoa Area |
|
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 3 Jun 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
6 |
Area A1, A2 |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
10 |
Area B2 and that part of B1, which lies south of the true right bank of the Uawa River Mouth, Tolaga Bay |
|
4 May to 14 Jul 2019 |
20 |
That part of B1, which lies north of the true right bank of the Uawa River Mouth, Tolaga Bay |
|
Pukeko |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
29 Feb and 1 Mar 2020 |
10 |
All areas |
|
Black swan |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
No limit |
Area A1 |
29 Feb and 1 Mar 2020 |
No limit |
Area A1 |
|
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
5 |
Area A2 |
|
Closed season |
0 |
Area B1 & B2 |
|
Bobwhite (Virginian) quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
No limit |
All areas |
Brown quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
All areas |
California quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
No limit |
Area A1 & A2 |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
Area B1 & B2 |
|
Cock pheasant |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
All areas |
2. Definition of Areas
The following descriptions refer to Local Authority Boundaries described on the Infomap 242B-2 Land Information New Zealand for the Eastern Fish and Game Region.
3. Shooting Hours
6.15am to 6.15pm in all areas for all species during their respective seasons.
4. Decoy Limit
No limit.
5. Special Conditions
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck |
4 May to 16 Jun 2019 |
8 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 16 Jun 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Pukeko |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Black swan |
4 May to 16 Jun 2019 |
3 |
All areas |
Brown quail |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
California quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
2. Shooting Hours
6.30am to 6.00pm.
3. Decoy Limit
No limit.
4. Special Conditions
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 3 Jun 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
29 Feb and 1 Mar 2020 |
10 |
Area C |
|
7 and 8 Mar 2020 |
10 |
Area C |
|
Black swan |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Pukeko |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
Areas A & B |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
Area C |
|
California quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
2. Definition of Areas
3. Shooting Hours
6.30am to 6.15pm.
4. Decoy Limit
No limit.
5. Special Conditions
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Pukeko |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
All areas |
Black swan |
4 May to 30 Jun 2019 |
3 |
All areas |
Brown quail |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
California quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Red-legged partridge |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
1 |
All areas |
2. Definition of Areas
3. Shooting Hours
6.30am to 6.30pm.
4. Decoy Limit
No limit.
5. Special conditions
No person may hunt or kill game birds, as specified, within the Wellington region with any magazine extensions on a shotgun of a bore smaller than 10 gauge (including 12, 16, 20, 28, 410).
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
8 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
10 |
All areas, except Tasman/Golden Bay area |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
15 |
Tasman/Golden Bay area |
|
Pukeko |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
10 |
Except East Coast/Kaikoura area |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
East Coast/Kaikoura area only |
|
29 Jul to 27 Oct 2019 1 Jan 2020 to 23 Feb 2020 |
10 10 |
Tasman/Golden Bay area only Tasman/Golden Bay area only |
|
Black swan |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
California quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
Except Motueka and Waimea River Bermland |
1 Jun to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
Motueka and Waimea River Bermland only |
|
Cock pheasant |
1 Jun to 3 Jun 2019 22 and 23 Jun 2019 20 and 21 Jul 2019 |
1 1 1 |
All publicly administered land (excludes Crown Forest land) |
Cock pheasant |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
1 |
All privately owned land as well as Crown Forest Land, and Rabbit Island (Fish & Game organised hunt only) |
Chukar (subject to clause 5(7) for this region) |
1 Jul to 31 Jul 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
2. Definition of Areas
3. Shooting Hours
6.30am to 6.30pm during May, then 6.45am to 6.15pm until 25 August 2019. For the remaining pukeko season, sunrise to sunset.
4. Decoy Limit
No limit.
5. Special Conditions
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
Aggregate bag 15 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
15 |
All areas |
2 Mar to 10 Mar 2020 (Junior licence holders only) |
5 |
||
Pukeko |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
10 |
North of the Taramakau River |
2 Mar to 10 Mar 2020 (Junior licence holders only) |
5 |
||
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
20 |
South of the Taramakau River |
|
Black swan |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
4 |
All areas |
Pheasant |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
2. Shooting Hours
6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July inclusive).
6.30am to 8.00pm (March).
3. Decoy Limit
No limit.
4. Special conditions
No person may hunt or kill game birds, as specified, within the West Coast region with any magazine shotgun of a bore smaller than 10 gauge unless the shotgun:
so that the magazine shotgun is incapable of holding more than 4 shells in the magazine, with no more than 5 shells in the magazine and chamber combined, at any one time.
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey, mallard and shoveler duck aggregate bag limit |
4 and 5 May 2019 |
25 |
All areas |
Grey, mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
6 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
15 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
20 |
Area A |
4 May to 22 Sep 2019 |
20 |
Area B |
|
1 Feb 2020 to 15 Mar 2020 |
15 |
Area A |
|
1 Feb 2020 to 15 Mar 2020 |
20 |
Area B |
|
Pukeko |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Black swan |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
5 |
Area A |
29 Jul to 29 Sep 2019 |
20 |
Area A |
|
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
Area B |
|
California quail |
4 May to 18 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
8 and 9 Jun 2019 |
1 |
All areas |
Chukar |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
2. Definition of Areas
3. Shooting Hours
4. Decoy Limit
No limit.
5. Special Conditions
6. Closed Game Areas
There are three Closed Game Areas in the North Canterbury Region: St Anne’s Lagoon, the northern end of the Rakaia Lagoon and the Ahuriri Lagoon.
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey, mallard and shoveler duck: A maximum total aggregate bag not exceeding 50 birds for all those species including hybrids combined, except that within the aggregate bag a limit of 5 grey duck and 2 shoveler duck must apply. |
|||
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
50 |
All areas |
1, 2 and 8, 9 Feb 2020 |
10 |
Area C |
|
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
25 |
East of State Highway 1 |
4 May to 29 Sep 2019 |
25 |
West of State Highway 1 |
|
1, 2 and 8, 9 Feb 2020 |
15 |
Area B |
|
Pukeko |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Black swan |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
5 |
Area B |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
Area A |
|
Bobwhite (Virginian) quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
No limit |
All areas |
California quail |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Chukar (subject to clause 2(4) for this region) |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
4 |
All areas |
2. Definition of Areas
3. Shooting Hours
6.45am to 6.30pm (May to September 2019 inclusive).
5.30am to 10.00pm for the mid-summer mallard and paradise shelduck season 1/2 and 8/9 February 2020.
4. Decoy Limit
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
25 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 28 Jul 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
12 |
All areas |
7 Mar 2020 (one day only) |
5 |
All areas junior hunting day (refer to clause 5.4 for this Region) |
|
Pukeko |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
Black swan |
Closed season |
0 |
Area A |
4 May to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
Area B |
|
California quail |
1 Jun to 25 Aug 2019 |
10 |
All areas |
Chukar |
1 Jun to 25 Aug 2019 |
2 |
All areas |
Pheasant |
1 Jun to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
All areas |
Red-legged partridge |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
2. Definition of Areas
3. Shooting Hours
Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm.
Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm.
4. Decoy Limit
No limit.
5. Special Conditions
6. Refuges and Closed Game Areas
The following wetland refuges and closed game areas are closed to hunting:
Refuges | Location |
1. Lake Hayes | Queenstown/Arrowtown highway |
2. Hawksbury Lagoon | Waikouaiti – East Otago |
3. Finegand | Balclutha |
Closed Game Areas | Location |
4. Ashley Downs | Near Clinton, South Otago |
5. Tomahawk Lagoon | Dunedin |
6. Kawarau River outlet | From Lake Wakatipu downstream to the Shotover River confluence |
1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2019/2020 Season
The respective daily bag limits in the following table apply throughout the Southland Fish and Game Region during the corresponding periods under the heading ‘Season Duration’.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
4 May and 5 May 2019 |
15 |
6 May to 14 Jul 2019 |
10 |
|
NZ shoveler duck |
4 May to 14 Jul 2019 |
2 |
Paradise shelduck |
4 May to 14 Jul 2019 |
6 |
Pukeko |
Closed season |
0 |
Black swan |
4 May to 14 Jul 2019 |
5 |
California quail |
1 Jun to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
Cock pheasant |
1 Jun to 25 Aug 2019 |
5 |
Chukar |
Closed season |
0 |
2. Shooting Hours
7.00am to 6.30pm.
3. Decoy Limit
No limit.
4. Special Conditions
Approved at Wellington this 3rd day of March 2019.
Hon EUGENIE SAGE, Minister of Conservation.
1. Section 19A(1) of the Wildlife Act 1953.
2. Sections 19A(2)(a)(i) and 19A(2)(a)(ii) of the Wildlife Act 1953.
3. Section 72(3A)€ of the Wildlife Act 1953.
4. Section 17 of the Wildlife Act 1953.
5. Amended notification to section 18(1)(c)(iii) and (v) of the Wildlife Act 1953 as authorised by the Minister of Conservation under section 18(1) of that Act.
6. Section 18(1)(f)(vi) of the Wildlife Act 1953.
7. Section 18(1)(f)(v) of the Wildlife Act 1953.
8. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
9. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861, as amended by New Zealand Gazette, 29 August 1991, No. 129, page 2789.
10. Section 7 of the Wildlife Act 1953.
11. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
12. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
13. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
14. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
15. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
16. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
17. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
18. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861, as amended by New Zealand Gazette, 29 August 1991, No. 129, page 2789.
19. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.
20. Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, 27 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.