Wildlife Act 1953

Wildlife Regulations 1955

New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Stamp Regulations 1993

Under sections 15, 16, and 19A of the Wildlife Act 1953, the Minister of Conservation declares an open season for game in the Fish and Game Regions from 2 May 2026 to 30 April 2027 inclusive, subject to the conditions specified in 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.

Notice

Title

1. This notice is the Hunters Notice 2026.

Commencement

1. This notice comes into force on 2 May 2026.

Interpretation

1. Unless the context requires otherwise, terms used in this notice have the same meaning as in the Wildlife Act 1953.

New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Stamp

1. 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.
2. The following form of the 2026 Game Bird Habitat Stamp is approved.

Conditions for Hunting Common to all Fish and Game Regions

1. A person who holds a valid game hunting licence may hunt game in any region subject to the conditions set out in Schedule 1 of this notice.

Conditions for Hunting Specific to Particular Fish and Game Regions

1. A person who holds a valid game hunting licence may hunt game in a Fish and Game Region subject to the conditions for that region set out in Schedule 2 of this notice.

Scope of Notice

1. Clauses 5 and 6 of this notice do not apply to the hunting or killing of pheasants and red-legged partridge in the specified areas (known as upland game preserves) listed in Schedule 1 of the Preserves Notice 2026, or its successor notices.

Revocation

1. The Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions Notice that came into force on 3 May 2025 (New Zealand Gazette, 14 April 2025, Notice No. 2025-gs1230) is revoked.

Schedule 1

Hunting Conditions Common to all Fish and Game Regions

1. Bag Limits

1. No person shall take or kill, on any one day, more than the number of game birds specified as the daily bag limit for the Fish and Game Region in which the game is taken.
2. No person shall possess, on any one day, more than the number of game birds specified as the daily bag limit for the Fish and Game Region in which the game is taken, except on Sunday, 3 May 2026, when that person may have in their possession twice the number of game birds specified as the daily bag limit for Saturday, 2 May 2026.
3. A person may possess more game than specified in clause 1(2) of this Schedule, if all such game is labelled with the following details:

1. 1. The name and address of the person by whom the game was taken;
   2. The number of the licence to hunt or kill game held by the person by whom the game was taken;
   3. The name of the Fish and Game Region by which that licence was issued;
   4. The name of the Fish and Game Region in which the game was taken; and
   5. The date on which the game was taken.

2. Waiver of Restrictions on Baiting for Waterfowl

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.¹ In the Second Schedule, Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game Region, Special Condition 4(10), applies to restrictions on baiting.

3. Magazine Shotguns

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 1983,² other than in the:

1. Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game Region;
2. Eastern Fish and Game Region;
3. Hawke’s Bay Fish and Game Region;
4. Wellington Fish and Game Region; and
5. West Coast Fish and Game Region.

For these five Regions the special conditions in Schedule 2 apply.

4. Shot Size

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 BB.

5. Use of Lead Shot Prohibited

1. No person may possess lead shot, or use lead shot, while hunting or killing waterfowl within 200 metres of open water with any gun. Non-toxic alternative shot must be used, such as steel.
2. For the purposes of this requirement, “waterfowl” means any of the following game species:

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).

3. For the purposes of this requirement, “open water” means either:

1. 1. any area of land or seabed covered permanently or seasonally by water wider than 3 metres; or
   2. any area which is temporarily covered by water wider than 3 metres at the time of such possession or use, and that is contiguous to an area referred to in paragraph (3)(a).

6. Camouflaged Rowboats

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:³

Northland – no excluded period

Auckland/Waikato – excluding 2 and 3 May 2026 for the whole Auckland/Waikato region and excluding 2 to 4 May and 9 and 10 May 2026 for the Waikato River north of the boat ramp at the confluence of the Mangawara Stream

Eastern – excluding 2 and 3 May 2026

Hawke’s Bay – excluding 2 and 3 May 2026

Taranaki – no excluded period

Wellington – excluding 2 and 3 May 2026

Nelson/Marlborough – no excluded period

West Coast – no excluded period

North Canterbury – excluding 2 and 3 May 2026

Central South Island – excluding 2 and 3 May 2026

Otago – excluding Clutha River 2 to 10 May 2026 inclusive

Southland – excluding 2 and 3 of May 2026, and the Mataura River downstream of the State Highway 1 Bridge at Gore for the month of May, and that part of the Oreti River below the Dunn’s Road bridge for the whole season.

7. Restriction on Taking of Game

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 1953.⁴

8. Mark-up Day

1. Stand claimants who claimed and occupied a stand during the 2025 Game Season may claim that stand at any time prior to Mark-up Day (up to 10.00am on 29 March 2026) following the purchase of the 2026 game licence. If you are in the Auckland/Waikato Region, then the above mentioned applies only to Adult Whole-Season Licence Holders and does not apply to Junior Licence Holders as it does in all other Fish and Game Regions.
2. Otherwise, unclaimed stands can only be claimed any time after 10.00am on 29 March 2026 in all Fish and Game Regions.
3. A stand may be claimed by planting on it a stake having either a board or identifying label attached, plainly identifying the name of the claimant and the number of his/her licence. The hunting stand claim tag provided with the licence must be completed with the name of the claimant and affixed to the board or identifying label.
4. The licence holder claiming a stand must be present in person at the stand when marking it up.
5. No one can claim more than one stand.
6. A stand cannot be claimed closer than 90 metres to a stand already claimed by another person without that person’s consent.
7. Any stand not occupied by the claimant within one hour after the opening hour of hunting, on any day, can be occupied by another licence holder for the remainder of the day.

9. Conditions

These conditions will expire at the end of the open season for game.

Schedule 2

Hunting Conditions Applicable to Particular Fish and Game Regions

Northland Fish and Game Region⁵

1. Game That May Be Hunted or Killed—Duration of the 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of that species	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	12
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	3
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	25
	20 Feb 2027 to 28 Feb 2027	25
Black swan	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	20
	20 Feb 2027 to 28 Feb 2027	20
Pūkeko	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	12
	20 Feb 2027 to 28 Feb 2027	12
California quail Brown quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026 2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10 10
Cock pheasant	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5

2. Shooting Hours

6.30am to 6.30pm, except the hunting of paradise shelduck, pūkeko and black swan on 20 February 2027 to 28 February 2027 will be from 6.30am to 8.00pm.

3. Decoy Limit

No limit.

4. Special Conditions

1. No person shall wilfully leave on the hunting ground any game bird(s) shot or parts of any game bird(s) shot.
2. Camouflaged Rowboats: Persons may hunt or kill game from an unmoored camouflaged rowboat.
3. During 20 February 2027 to 28 February 2027 special open season, no person shall hunt within 300 metres of any urban sewage oxidation ponds.
4. During 20 Feb 2027 to 28 Feb 2027 special open season, no person shall hunt game in any of the Fish and Game owned or managed wetlands being Jack Bisset Wetland, Underwood Wetland, Kawakawa Wetland, Flaxmill Wetland, Borrow Cut Wetland, Greenheart Wetland and Wairua River Government Purpose Wildlife Management Reserve.
5. Any game bird licence holder who has a Department of Conservation authorisation to take or kill wildlife for the purpose of hawking or falconry may hunt with an Australasian Harrier (Circus approximans) to take game birds. This is subject to the season length and bag limit for each game bird species in clause 1 of this notice and any other special conditions for the Northland Fish and Game region and also subject to any conditions imposed by the Director-General of Conservation under such a permit.

Auckland/Waikato Fish And Game Region⁶

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species	2 May to 14 Jun 2026	8	All areas, except that no duck may be hunted on Great Barrier Island
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 14 Jun 2026	2	All areas, except that no duck may be hunted on Great Barrier Island
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	10	The region south of Auckland Harbour Bridge
	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	25	The region north of Auckland Harbour Bridge
	20 Feb to 21 Feb 2027	15	The region north of Auckland Harbour Bridge
Pūkeko	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
	20 Feb to 21 Feb 2027	10	The region north of Auckland Harbour Bridge
Black swan	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	20	The region west of State Highway 1 and north of State Highway 22 (Glenbrook Road), Constable and Karioitahi Roads
	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	5	In the Otorohanga, Waitomo and Ruapehu District Council areas within the A/WF&GC region and the Aotea Harbour
	2 May to 14 Jun 2026	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 quail and brown quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
Cock pheasant	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	3	All areas
Red-legged partridge	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All Areas

2. Shooting Hours

6.30am to 6.15pm, except the hunting of paradise shelduck and pūkeko on 13 February to 14 February 2027 will be from 6.30am to 8.00pm.

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

1. No person may use or cause to be used for the hunting or killing of game on Lake Waikare, any drifting or temporarily moored floating stand or any stand, hide or maimai which is permanently fixed to the lake bed except within 180 metres of the outer margin of the lake or the shoreline of Motu Nuia Island (Grape Island).
2. No person may use or cause to be used for the hunting or killing of game on Lake Ngaroto any fixed stand, pontoon, hide or maimai except within 85 metres of the margin of the lake.
3. No person may use or cause to be used for the hunting or killing of game on Lake Rotokauri any fixed stand, pontoon, hide or maimai on any open water of the lake.
4. No person may wilfully leave on the hunting ground any game bird(s) shot or parts of any game birds shot.
5. No person may herd or drive waterfowl for the purpose of hunting or killing them.
6. No person may shoot game from any unmoored boat on the Waikato River north of the boat ramp at the confluence of the Mangawara Stream and the Waikato River at Taupiri on any of the first three days or the second weekend of the open season.
7. No person may shoot game from any unmoored boat on the Waikato River south of the boat ramp at the confluence of the Mangawara Stream and the Waikato River at Taupiri to the Shakespeare St bridge in Cambridge for the duration of the open season.
8. No person may possess a firearm in or on any unmoored vessel, except a rowboat, unless the firearm is dismantled or secured in a case, gunslip or other secure compartment, except when in use to retrieve wounded game.
9. On public land, the last tagged owner must remove any maimai not tagged up for 2 years from the date of the last mark-up.
10. No person may hunt or kill game of the family Anatidae (waterfowl) in all the area contained within a distance of 100 metres from the margins of any waters together with the area covered by those waters where food has been cast, thrown, placed or planted any time during the period 1 April to 28 June 2026 inclusive.⁷
11. No person may hunt or kill game birds, as specified, within the Auckland/Waikato region with any magazine shotgun of 10 gauge or smaller (including 12, 16, 20, 28, .410) unless the shotgun:
    1. has a magazine of any type adjusted with a one-piece filler which is incapable of removal without disassembling the gun; or
    2. the magazine is pinned in accordance with Regulations made under this Act;
       so that the magazine shotgun is incapable of holding more than 2 shells in the magazine, with no more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined, at any one time.
12. Any game bird licence holder who has a Department of Conservation authorisation to take or kill wildlife for the purpose of hawking or falconry may hunt with an Australasian Harrier (Circus approximans) to take game birds. This is subject to the season length and bag limit for each game bird species in clause 1 of this notice for this region and subject to any conditions imposed by the Director-General of Conservation under such a permit.
13. No person may shoot game on Lake Cameron and Lake Mangakaware except from fixed stands authorised by the Waipa District Council.
14. Every person who hunts or kills game shall make all reasonable efforts to retrieve game they have shot as soon as is practicable after shooting it.
15. No person is allowed to shoot at game if they have no means of retrieving it.

5. Closed Game Areas

1. All that area of the Waikato River below Mean High Water Spring Tide from the Tasman Sea inland to an imaginary line commencing from a marker at the exit of the Fisherman’s Road drain on the north-western side of the river in Block VII Maioro Survey District, bearing 126 degrees true to a marker on the south-eastern side of the river.
2. All DP 23519, being part Maungatapu Block, Blocks II and VI Maungakawa Survey District, being 15 hectares, the property of A. C. Allen, “Riverdale”, Piako, Morrinsville.
3. The township of Te Aroha.
4. All that area lying to the east of the Southern Motorway and known as Pahurehure Inlet.
5. 129 hectares, being part of the Manukau Harbour known as Waimahia Creek.
6. Lots 1–6 DPS 81922, subdivision of part Lot 7 DP 9441 and part Section 19 Block II Whitianga Survey District, 53.3353 hectares. Property of Andrew Hill.
7. Lake Puketirini (Weavers Lake) at Huntly.

Eastern Fish and Game Region⁸

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey/mallard duck	2 May to 1 Jun 2026	6	All areas
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 1 Jun 2026	2	All areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	6	Area A1, A2
	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	10	Area B2 and that part of B1, which lies south of the true right bank of the Uawa River Mouth, Tolaga Bay
	2 May to 12 Jul 2026	20	That part of B1, which lies north of the true right bank of the Uawa River Mouth, Tolaga Bay
Pūkeko	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
	27 Mar to 4 Apr 2027	10	All areas
Black swan	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	No limit	Area A1
	27 Mar to 4 Apr 2027	No limit	Area A1
	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	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	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	No limit	Area A1 & A2
	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	Area B1 & B2
Cock pheasant	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	All areas

2. Definition of 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.

1. Area A1: Tauranga District, Western Bay of Plenty District, that part of the South Waikato District within the Eastern Fish and Game region and east of State Highway 1, Rotorua District, Kawerau District, Whakatane District and Opotiki District.
2. Area A2: Those parts of the South Waikato District west of State Highway 1 within the Eastern Fish and Game region, Taupo District and Ruapehu District, which lie within the Eastern Fish and Game region.
3. Area B1: Gisborne District.
4. Area B2: That part of Wairoa District within 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. No person may hunt or kill game birds, as specified, within the Eastern region with any magazine shotgun unless the shotgun:
   1. has a magazine of any type adjusted with a one-piece filler which is incapable of removal without disassembling the gun; or
   2. the magazine is pinned in accordance with Regulations made under this Act; so that the magazine shotgun is incapable of holding more than 2 shells in the magazine, with no more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined, at any one time.
2. Any game bird licence holder who has a Department of Conservation authorisation to take or kill wildlife for the purpose of hawking or falconry may hunt with an Australasian Harrier (Circus approximans) to take game birds. This is subject to the season length and bag limit for game birds specified in clause 1 of this notice for this Region and subject to any condition imposed by the Director-General of Conservation under such a permit.
3. No person shall wilfully within the Eastern Fish and Game Region, in or on any public place, or
4. in or on any private land without consent of the land occupier:
   1. deposit any type of litter, including any carcass or part of it, of any shot game.
   2. having deposited any type of litter, including carcasses or parts thereof, of any shot game, leaves it after having been deposited.
   3. for the purposes of this regulation litter includes any refuse, animal or game remains, or waste matter or items of any type used in the course of hunting, which is abandoned or intended to be abandoned.
5. A person must not use a drone to disturb game birds.

6. Hunting From a Boat Under Power

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.

Hawke’s Bay Fish Aand Game Region⁹

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey/mallard duck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	8	All areas
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	2	All areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	8	All areas
Pūkeko	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
Black swan	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	5	All areas
Brown quail	Closed season	0	All areas
California quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
Cock pheasant	2 May to 30Aug 2026	2	All areas

2. Shooting Hours

6.15am to 6.15pm.

3. Decoy Limit

No limit.

4. Special Conditions

1. No person may hunt or kill game birds, as specified, within the Hawke’s Bay region with any magazine extensions on a shotgun of 10 gauge or smaller (including 12, 16, 20, 28, .410).
2. Magazine shotguns must be restricted in such a way that the shotgun is incapable of holding more than two shells in the magazine, with no more than 3 shells in the magazine and chamber combined at any one time.
3. Any game bird licence holder who has a Department of Conservation authorisation to take or kill wildlife for the purpose of hawking or falconry may hunt with an Australasian Harrier (Circus approximans) to take game birds. This is subject to the season length and bag limit for game birds specified in clause 1 of this notice for this Region and subject to any conditions imposed by the Director-General of Conservation under such a permit.

Taranaki Fish And Game Region¹⁰

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey/mallard duck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	10	All areas
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	2	All areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	10	All areas
	20 and 21 Feb 2027	10	Area C
	27 and 28 Feb 2027	10	Area C
	6 to 8 Mar 2027	10	Area C
Black swan	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	2	All areas
Pūkeko	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	Areas A & B
	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	Area C
California quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	All areas
Cock pheasant	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	2	All areas
Bobwhite (Virginian) quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	All areas
Red-legged partridge	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	2	All areas

2. Definition of Areas

1. Area A: That area within the following boundary commencing at Waiaruhe Road; then by that road, Owhakura Road, Whangaehu Valley Road and Fields Track to Kakatahi; then by straight lines to Pipiriki and Tawhata; then by Tawhata Road to the boundary; then by the generally eastern boundary of the region to Waiaruhe Road.
2. Area B: That area within the following boundary commencing at Waiaruhe Road; then by that road, Owhakura Road, Whangaehu Valley Road and Fields Track to Kakatahi; then by straight lines to Pipiriki and Makakaho Junction down the eastern bank of the Waitotara River to the sea; then by the sea coast and generally eastern boundary of the region to Waiaruhe Road.
3. Area C: The balance of the region contained by the westerly boundaries of Area A and B and the sea coast between the Mokau River and Waitotara River mouths.

3. Shooting Hours

6.30am to 6.15pm.

4. Decoy Limit

No limit.

5. Special Conditions

1. Special Paradise Shelduck Season
   Area C only: For the Special Paradise Shelduck Season on 20 February, 21 February, 27 February, 28 February, 6 March, 7 March and 8 March 2027, the hours of hunting are extended to 6.30am to 8.00pm. In addition, all hunters, including land occupiers, must, within a month of the end of the season, provide the Taranaki Fish and Game Council with particulars of: the dates and locations where they hunted paradise shelduck; the hours hunted each day; the number of birds taken each day; and the number of birds not retrieved.
2. No person shall hunt, as specified, within 100m of any urban sewage oxidation pond.
3. No person may wilfully leave on the hunting ground any game bird(s) shot or parts of any game birds shot.
4. No person may shoot game from a boat on the Whanganui River downstream of Kemps Pole (Kauarapaoa Stream confluence).
5. No person may herd or drive waterfowl for the purpose of hunting or killing them.
6. Any game bird licence holder who has a Department of Conservation authorisation to take or kill wildlife for the purpose of hawking or falconry may hunt with an Australasian Harrier (Circus approximans) to take game birds. This is subject to the season length and bag limit for each game bird species in clause 1 of this notice for this region and subject to any conditions imposed by the Director-General of Conservation under such a permit.

Wellington Fish and Game Region¹¹

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey/mallard duck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	10	All areas
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	2	All areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	10	All Areas
Pūkeko	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	All areas
Black swan	2 May to 28 Jun 2026	5	All areas
	29 June to 30 Aug 2026	15	All areas
Brown quail	Closed season	0	All areas
California quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	All areas
Cock pheasant	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	2	All areas
Red-legged partridge	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	1	All areas

2. Shooting Hours

6.30am to 6.30pm.

3. Decoy Limit

No limit.

4. 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).

Nelson Marlborough Region¹²

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	8	All areas
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2	All areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	10	All areas, except Tasman/Golden Bay area
	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	15	Tasman/Golden Bay area
Pūkeko	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	10	Except East Coast/Kaikoura & Tasman/Golden Bay area
	2 May to 25 Oct 2026	20	Tasman/Golden Bay area
	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2	East Coast/Kaikoura area only
	2 Jan 2027 to 21 Feb 2027	20	Tasman/Golden Bay area only
Black swan	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	10	All areas
	8 Aug to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
California quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
Cock pheasant	2 May and 3 May 2026	1	All publicly administered land
	30 May to 1 Jun 2026	1
	20 and 21 Jun 2026	1
	18 and 19 Jul 2026	1
Cock pheasant	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	1	All privately owned land including Crown Forest Land
Chukar	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2	All areas

2. Definition of Areas

1. Wairau Lagoons: That area defined as all open waters, islands and the peninsula between Chandlers Lagoon and Big Lagoon, south of the Wairau River mouth, including Te Aropipi Channel and south to the White Bluffs.
2. Tasman/Golden Bay area: The area west of the Bryant/Gordon Range, north of State Highway 63 from St Arnaud to Kawatiri Junction encompassing Tasman & Golden Bays.
3. East Coast/Kaikoura Area: The area to the south of the Awatere Valley/Molesworth Road and the Redwood Pass Road.

3. Shooting Hours

6.30am to 6.30pm during May, then 6.45am to 6.15pm until 25 August 2024. For the remaining pūkeko season, sunrise to sunset.

4. Decoy Limit

No limit.

5. Special Conditions

1. All permanent hunting stands/maimais used for the purposes of hunting of game on the Wairau Lagoons must be situated above the mean high-water level.
2. Moored camouflaged boats are permitted for hunting or killing game in the Wairau Lagoons, but shall not be within 200 metres of any other hunting stand.

West Coast Fish and Game Region¹³

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	Aggregate bag 15	All areas
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2	All areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	15	All areas
	27 Feb to 21 Mar 2027	15	Locations 200 metres or more from open water
Pūkeko	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	20	All areas
	1 Jan to 21 Mar 2027	20	All areas
Black swan	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	4	All areas
	27 Feb to 21 Mar 2027	4	All areas
Cock Pheasant	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2	All areas

2. Shooting Hours

6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July inclusive).

5.00am to 10.00pm (January to March inclusive).

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:

1. has a magazine of any type adjusted with a one-piece filler which is incapable of removal without disassembling the gun; or
2. the magazine is pinned in accordance with Regulations made under this Act;

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.

North Canterbury Fish And and Game Region¹⁴

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey, mallard and any hybrid of those species	2 May to 3 May 2026	20	All Areas
	4 May to 26 Jul 2026	15	All Areas
	6 to 7 and 13 to 14 Feb 2027	10	Area B, Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks and more than 200 metres from any water body.
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2	All Areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	15	All Areas
	6 Feb 2027 to 14 Mar 2027	15	Area A, Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks and more than 200 metres from any water body.
	6 Feb 2027 to 14 Mar 2027	20	Area B, Only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks and more than 200 metres from any water body.
Pūkeko	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	All Areas
Black swan	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2	All Areas
California quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All Areas
Cock pheasant	30 May to 1 Jun, 4 to 5 Jul, 1 to 2 Aug 2026 (three weekends only, including King’s Birthday)	1	All Areas
Chukar	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	2	All Areas

2. Definition of Areas

1. Area A: That area east of State Highway 1 from the Rakaia River in the south to Woodend Beach Road in the north.
2. Area B: The remainder of the region excluding “Area A”.

3. Shooting Hours

6.30am to 6.30pm (May to July inclusive).

5.00am to 10.00pm (February to March inclusive).

4. Decoy Limit

No limit.

5. Special Conditions

1. No person shall wilfully leave on the hunting ground the body or a part of the body of any game bird shot in this region.

6. Refuges and Closed Game Areas

1. The following wetland refuges and closed game areas are closed to hunting:

Wildlife Refuge Locations

Lake Grasmere Wildlife Refuge, Waimakariri Catchment.

Lake Pearson Wildlife Refuge, Waimakariri Catchment.

Closed Game Area 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).

Central South Island Fish and Game Region¹⁵

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	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 applies.
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	50	All areas
	6 to 7 and 13 to 14 Feb 2027	10	Area C
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2	All areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	25	All areas
	27 Jul to 27 Sep 2026	25	West of State Highway 1
	6 to 7 and 13 to 14 Feb 2027	15	Area B
Pūkeko	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	10	All areas
Black swan	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	5	All areas
Bobwhite (Virginian) quail	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	No limit	All areas
California quail	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
Chukar (subject to clause 5 for this region)	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
Cock pheasant	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	4	All areas

2. Definition of Areas

1. Area A: All that part of the region encompassing Lake Wainono and Wainono Reserve and bounded to the north by Hook Beach Road, the west by State Highway 1, the south by Poingdestres Road and the east by the Pacific Ocean.
2. Area B: That part of the region not included in Area A.
3. Area C: That part of Area B north of the Opihi River only over agricultural grain crops and green feed paddocks and more than 200 metres from any water body.

3. Shooting Hours

6.45am to 6.30pm (May to September inclusive).

5.30am to 10.00pm (February).

4. Decoy Limit

No limit

5. Chukar Hunting

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.

Otago Fish And Game Region¹⁶

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit	Hunting Area
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	25	All areas
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	1 drake	All areas
Paradise shelduck	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	15	All areas
	6 Mar to 14 Mar 2027	15	All areas (refer to clause 5(4) for this Region)
Pūkeko	Closed season	0	All areas
Black swan	Closed season	0	Area A
	2 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	Area B
California quail	30 May to 30 Aug 2026	10	All areas
Chukar	30 May to 30 Aug 2026	2	All areas
Cock pheasant	30 May to 30 Aug 2026	5	All areas

2. Definition of Areas

1. Area A: The Clutha River catchment upstream from the Clyde Dam.
2. Area B: The Clutha River catchment downstream from the Clyde Dam; the Taieri River catchment and all the coastal catchments between Shag Point and The Brothers Point on the east coast of the South Island.

3. Shooting Hours

1. Area A: 7.00am to 6.45pm May to August inclusive
2. Area B: 7.00am to 6.30pm
3. All Areas: 5.30am to 10.00pm (March).

4. Decoy Limit

No limit.

5. Special Conditions

1. No person shall use or cause to be used on any water within the region for the hunting or killing of game, any fixed stand, pontoon, hide, loo or maimai, except within a distance of 10 metres from the water margin in non-tidal waters, or from the low water mark in tidal waters, or from the outside edge of the raupo growth where raupo abounds, without the prior consent of the Otago Fish and Game Council.
2. No person may leave on the hunting ground the bodies or parts of bodies of black swan or other game shot in the Otago Fish and Game region.
3. Shooting from a boat is prohibited on the Clutha River from 2 May to 10 May 2026 inclusive (refer to First Schedule clause 6).
4. The special paradise shelduck season is open from 6 March to 14 March 2027 inclusive. Hunting is restricted to locations 200 metres or more from open water.
5. No hen shoveler ducks may be taken.

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. Tomahawk Lagoon, Dunedin.
5. Kawarau River outlet, From Lake Wakatipu downstream to the Shotover River confluence.

Southland Fish And Game Region¹⁷

1. Game That May be Hunted or Killed—Duration of 2026/2027 Season

Species	Season Duration (dates inclusive)	Daily Bag Limit
Grey/mallard duck and any hybrid of those species	2 May to 3 May 2026 4 May to 26 July 2026	20 10
NZ shoveler duck	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	2 drakes
Paradise shelduck	2 May and 3 May 2026	10
	4 May to 26 Jul 2026	6
Pūkeko	Closed season	0
Black swan	2 May to 26 Jul 2026	5
California quail	30 May to 30 Aug 2026	5
Cock pheasant	30 May to 30 Aug 2026	5
Chukar	Closed season	0

2. Shooting Hours

7.00am to 6.30pm.

3. Decoy Limit

No limit.

4. Special Conditions

1. Shooting from boats is prohibited during all of May 2026 on the Mataura River and all its navigable tributaries.
2. Shooting from unmoored boats is prohibited below the Dunn’s Road bridge on the Oreti River.
3. In the Southland Fish and Game Region, no person shall in or on a public place, or in or on private land without the consent of its occupier, deposit or leave any litter (including any shotgun cartridge case and/or any body or part of any body of shot game).
4. No hen shoveler ducks may be taken.

5. Closed Game Areas

The following closed game areas are closed to hunting:

Approved at Nelson this 25th day of February 2026.

Hon JAMES MEAGER, Minister for Hunting and Fishing.

1. Section 17 of the Wildlife Act 1953.

2. 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.

3. Section 18(1)(f)(vi) of the Wildlife Act 1953.

4. Section 18(1)(f)(v) of the Wildlife Act 1953.

5. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, 24 May 1990, No. 83, page 1861.

6. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, 24 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, at page 192.

7. Section 17 of the Wildlife Act 1953.

8. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, of 24 May 1990, at page 1861.

9. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, of 24 May 1990, at page 1861.

10. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, of 24 May 1990, at page 1861.

11. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, of 24 May 1990, at page 1861.

12. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, of 24 May 1990, at page 1861.

13. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, of 24 May 1990, at page 1861.

14.Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, 24 May 1990, No. 83, at page 1861, as amended by the New Zealand Gazette, 3 September 1992, No. 141, at page 2958.

15. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, 24 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.

16.Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, of 24 May 1990, at page 1861.

17. Reference to description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, of 24 May 1990, at page 1861.

Note: This notice replaces the Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 27 February 2026, Notice No. 2026-sl764, which had an incorrect title. The correct title is Hunters Notice 2026.