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 6 May 2023 to 3 May 2024 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 must 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.1 The following form of the 2023 Game Bird Habitat Stamp is approved.2
The 2023 Game Bird Habitat Stamp has a face value of ten dollars ($10.00). A fee of five dollars ($5.00) only is payable for every game bird habitat stamp supplied with a licence to hunt or kill game.3
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. |
This notice revokes all previous Open Season for Game Notices and shall come into force on 6 May 2023.
A person 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.4 In the Second Schedule, Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game Region, Special Condition 4(10), 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 extensions that comply with the Arms Act 1983,5 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.
Black swan (Cygnus atratus);
Grey duck (Anas superciliosa) and any cross of that species with any other species, variety, or kind of duck;
Mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) and any cross of that species with any other species, variety, or kind of duck;
Paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata) also known as Paradise duck;
Australasian shoveler duck (New Zealand shoveler) (Anas rhynchotis);
Pūkeko (Porphyrio porphyrio melanotus).
A person 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:6
Northland – no excluded period
Auckland/Waikato – excluding 6 and 7 May 2023 for the whole Auckland/Waikato region and excluding 6 to 8 May and 13 and 14 May 2023 for the Waikato River north of the boat ramp at the confluence of the Mangawara Stream
Eastern – excluding 6 and 7 May 2023
Hawke’s Bay – excluding 6 and 7 May 2023
Taranaki – no excluded period
Wellington – excluding 6 and 7 May 2023
Nelson/Marlborough – no excluded period
West Coast – no excluded period
North Canterbury – excluding 6 and 7 May 2023
Central South Island – excluding 6 and 7 May 2023
Otago – excluding Clutha River 6 to 14 May 2023 inclusive
Southland – excluding the Mataura, Aparima, Oreti, Waiau and Waimatuku rivers and their tributaries 6 to 31 May 2023 inclusive and excluding that part of the Oreti River below the Dunn’s Road bridge for the whole season.
No person shall use any vehicle propelled by mechanical power (including motorised watercraft) to chase or kill game, except in such circumstances and at such times as authorised by the Conservation Act 1987 and Wildlife Act 1953.7
These conditions will expire at the end of the open season for game.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of that species |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
12 |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
3 |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
20 |
17 Feb 2024 to 25 Feb 2024 |
20 |
|
Black swan |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
20 |
17 Feb 2024 to 25 Feb 2024 |
20 |
|
Pūkeko |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
12 |
17 Feb 2024 to 25 Feb 2024 |
12 |
|
California and brown quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
Cock pheasant |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
6.30am to 6.30pm, except the hunting of paradise shelduck, pūkeko and black swan on 17 February to 25 February 2024 will be from 6.30am to 8.00pm.
No limit.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
6 May to 5 Jun 2023 |
8 |
All areas, except that no duck may be hunted on Great Barrier Island |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 5 Jun 2023 |
2 |
All areas, except that no duck may be hunted on Great Barrier Island |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 25 Jun 2023 |
10 |
The region south of Auckland Harbour Bridge |
6 May to 25 Jun 2023 |
20 |
The region north of Auckland Harbour Bridge |
|
17 Feb to 18 Feb 2024 |
15 |
The region north of Auckland Harbour Bridge |
|
Pūkeko |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
17 Feb to 18 Feb 2024 |
10 |
The region north of Auckland Harbour Bridge |
|
Black swan |
6 May to 25 Jun 2023 |
20 |
The region west of State Highway 1 and north of State Highway 22 (Glenbrook Road), Constable and Karioitahi Roads |
6 May to 25 Jun 2023 |
5 |
In the Otorohanga, Waitomo and Ruapehu District Council areas within the A/WF&GC region and the Aotea Harbour |
|
6 May to 5 Jun 2023 |
2 |
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 |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
3 |
All areas |
1 Sep to 28 Sep 2023 |
No limit |
Whaingaroa Pheasants and Glen Massey upland game properties with special conditions specified in clause 6 for this region (junior hunters only) |
|
Pheasant, both sexes |
6 May to 27 August 2023 |
No limit |
Upland game properties with special conditions specified in clause 6 for this Region |
Red-legged partridge |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All Areas |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
No limit |
Upland game properties with special conditions specified in clause 6 for this Region |
|
1 Apr to 3 May 2024 |
No limit |
Upland game properties with special conditions specified in clause 6 for this Region |
6.30am to 6.15pm, except the hunting of paradise shelduck and pūkeko on 18 February to 19 February 2024 will be from 6.30am to 8.00pm.
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.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck |
6 May to 5 Jun 2023 |
6 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 5 Jun 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
6 |
Area A1, A2 |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
10 |
Area B2 and that part of B1, which lies south of the true right bank of the Uawa River Mouth, Tolaga Bay |
|
6 May to 16 Jul 2023 |
20 |
That part of B1, which lies north of the true right bank of the Uawa River Mouth, Tolaga Bay |
|
Pūkeko |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
17 Feb to 25 Feb 2024 |
10 |
All areas |
|
Black swan |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
No limit |
Area A1 |
17 Feb to 25 Feb 2024 |
No limit |
Area A1 |
|
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
5 |
Area A2 |
|
Closed season |
0 |
Area B1 & B2 |
|
Bobwhite (Virginian) quail |
Closed Season |
0 |
All areas |
Brown quail |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
California quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
No limit |
Area A1 & A2 |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
Area B1 & B2 |
|
Cock pheasant |
6 May to 27Aug 2023 |
5 |
All areas |
The following descriptions refer to Management Units within the Eastern Region (described on Infomap 242B-2 Land Information New Zealand). The Management Units are defined using both District Council and Eastern Region Fish and Game boundaries. The coastal boundaries of Management Units A1, B1 and, B2 follow the coastline as per Infomap 242-2.
6.15am to 6.15pm in all areas for all species during their respective seasons.
No limit.
No person may possess a firearm that can be rapidly deployed in or on any unmoored vessel, except (1) where the unmoored vessel is not being propelled at the time by a motorised device, or (2) the firearm is needed to retrieve wounded game. For the purpose of this subclause a firearm is considered unable to be rapidly deployed if it has been dismantled or secured in a case, gunslip or other secure compartment.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
8 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
8 |
All areas |
Pūkeko |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
Black swan |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
3 |
All areas |
Brown quail |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
California quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
6.15am to 6.00pm.
No limit.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck |
6 May to 7 May 2023 |
15 |
All areas |
8 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
|
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
24 and 25 Feb 2024 |
10 |
Area C |
|
2 and 3 Mar 2024 |
10 |
Area C |
|
9 to 11 Mar 2024 |
10 |
Area C |
|
Black swan |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Pūkeko |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
Areas A & B |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
Area C |
|
California quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Bobwhite (Virginian) quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
All areas |
Red-legged partridge |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
6.30am to 6.15pm.
No limit.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
12 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
12 |
Area A - East |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
10 |
Area B - West |
|
Pūkeko |
6 May to 27 August 2023 |
5 |
All areas |
Black swan |
6 May to 2 Jul 2023 |
5 |
Area A - East |
6 May to 8 May 2023 |
5 |
Area B - West |
|
9 May 2023 to 2 July 2023 |
3 |
||
Brown quail |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
California quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Red-legged partridge |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
1 |
All areas |
6.30am to 6.30pm.
No limit.
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).
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
8 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
10 |
All areas, except Tasman/Golden Bay area |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
15 |
Tasman/Golden Bay area |
|
Pūkeko |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
10 |
Except East Coast/Kaikoura and Tasman/Golden Bay area |
6 May to 29 Oct 2023 |
20 |
Tasman/Golden Bay area |
|
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
2 |
East Coast/Kaikoura area only |
|
1 Jan 2024 to 25 Feb 2024 |
20 |
Tasman/Golden Bay area only |
|
Black swan |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
12 Aug to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
|
California quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
6 May and 7 May 2023 3 Jun to 5 Jun 2023 |
1 1 |
All publicly administered land |
24 and 25 Jun 2023 |
1 |
||
15 and 16 Jul 2023 |
1 |
||
Cock pheasant |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
1 |
All privately owned land including Crown Forest Land |
Chukar |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
6.30am to 6.30pm during May, then 6.45am to 6.15pm until 27 August 2023. For the remaining pūkeko season, sunrise to sunset.
No limit.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
Aggregate bag 15 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
15 |
All areas |
24 Feb to 17 Mar 2024 |
15 |
Locations 200 metres or more from open water |
|
Pūkeko |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
20 |
All areas |
1 Jan to 17 Mar 2024 |
20 |
All areas |
|
Black swan |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
4 |
All areas |
24 Feb to 17 Mar 2024 |
4 |
All areas |
|
Cock Pheasant |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July inclusive).
5.00am to 10.00pm (January to March inclusive).
No limit.
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.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey, mallard and any hybrid of those species |
6 and 7 May 2023 |
25 |
All Areas |
Grey, mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
8 May to 30 Jul 2023 3 to 4 and 10 to 11 Feb 2024 |
15 10 |
All Areas Area B, Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks and more than 200 metres from any water body. |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All Areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
20 |
Area A |
6 May to 17 Sep 2023 |
20 |
Area B |
|
3 Feb 2024 to 10 Mar 2024 |
15 |
Area A, Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks and more than 200 metres from any water body. |
|
3 Feb 2024 to 10 Mar 2024 |
20 |
Area B, Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks and more than 200 metres from any water body. |
|
Pūkeko |
6 May to 24 Sept 2023 |
5 |
All Areas |
Black swan |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All Areas |
California quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All Areas |
Cock pheasant |
3 to 4 Jun, 1 to 2 Jul, 5 to 6 Aug 2023 |
1 |
All Areas |
Chukar |
Closed season |
0 |
All Areas |
6.30am to 6.30pm (May to September 2023 inclusive).
5.00am to 10.00pm for the summer mallard and paradise shelduck season in 2024
No limit.
Wildlife Refuges | Locations |
Lake Grasmere Wildlife Refuge | Waimakariri Catchment |
Lake Pearson Wildlife Refuge | Waimakariri Catchment |
Closed Game Areas | Locations |
St Anne’s Lagoon | West of SH1 about 3km north of Cheviot |
Rakaia Lagoon | Lagoon area north of Boat Creek marked by signage. |
Ahuriri Lagoon | Along Huritini/Halswell River, near Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) |
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 |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
50 |
All areas |
3 to 4 and 10 to 11 Feb 2024 |
10 |
Area C |
|
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
25 |
All areas |
31 Jul to 24 Sep 2023 |
25 |
West of State Highway 1 |
|
3 to 4 and 10 to 11 Feb 2024 |
15 |
Area B |
|
Pūkeko |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
Black swan |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
5 |
All areas |
Bobwhite (Virginian) quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
No limit |
All areas |
California quail |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
Chukar (subject to clause 5 for this region) |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
4 |
All areas |
6.45am to 6.30pm (May to September 2023 inclusive).
5.30am to 10.00pm for the mid-summer mallard and paradise shelduck season 3 and 4 and 10 and 11 February 2024.
No limit
A person hunting chukar at any time of the season must, within a month of the end of the season, provide the Central South Island Fish and Game Council with particulars of: the dates and locations where they hunted chukar; the number of guns in the hunting party; the hours they commenced and ceased hunting each day; the number of birds taken each day; the number of coveys seen each day; an estimate of the average covey size seen each day; and whether or not they hunted with a dog.
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Hunting Area |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
25 |
All areas |
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 30 Jul 2023 |
1 drake |
All areas |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
12 |
All areas |
4 Mar to 12 Mar 2024 |
5 |
All areas (refer to clause 5(4) for this Region) |
|
Pūkeko |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
Black swan |
Closed season |
0 |
Area A |
6 May to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
Area B |
|
California quail |
3 June to 27 Aug 2023 |
10 |
All areas |
Chukar |
3 June to 27 Aug 2023 |
2 |
All areas |
Cock pheasant |
3 June to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
All areas |
Red-legged partridge |
Closed season |
0 |
All areas |
No limit.
The following wetland refuges and closed game areas are closed to hunting:
Refuges | Location |
Lake Hayes | Queenstown/Arrowtown highway |
Hawksbury Lagoon | Waikouaiti – East Otago |
Finegand | Balclutha |
Closed Game Areas | Location |
Ashley Downs | Near Clinton, South Otago |
Tomahawk Lagoon | Dunedin |
Kawarau River outlet from Lake Wakatipu downstream to the Shotover River confluence |
Species |
Season Duration |
Daily Bag Limit |
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species |
6 May and 7 May 2023 |
20 |
8 May to 16 Jul 2023 |
10 |
|
NZ shoveler duck |
6 May to 16 Jul 2023 |
2 drakes |
Paradise shelduck |
6 May and 7 May 2023 |
10 |
8 May to 16 Jul 2023 |
6 |
|
Pūkeko |
Closed season |
0 |
Black swan |
6 May to 16 Jul 2023 |
5 |
California quail |
3 June to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
Cock pheasant |
3 June to 27 Aug 2023 |
5 |
Chukar |
Closed season |
0 |
7.00am to 6.30pm.
No limit.
Approved at Wellington this 28th day of February 2023.
Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME, 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)(e) 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 2786, and as further amended by the New Zealand Gazette, 28 January 1993, No. 11, page 192.
10. Section 17 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, as amended by the New Zealand Gazette, 3 September 1992, No. 141, at page 2958.
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 2786, and as further amended by the New Zealand Gazette, 3 September 1992, No. 141, at page 2958.
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.