Wellington/Taranaki Weekly Hunting Bulletin - 25 June 2026

Last Weekend To Bag Some Ducks    

The weather is going to put it on for the final weekend of the main waterfowl hunting season. 

If you haven't already felt it, temperatures are plummeting ahead of a very strong southerly which is forecast to hit this evening.  

Pictured: Bob McChaffie sent in this stunning sunset shot taken last weekend.

With widespread rain thrown into it the mix - heavy for some parts - it could be the best weekend of the season. 

Hopefully the favourable weather will see plenty of hunters out, helping shift birds around as they get one last hit-out on ducks. 

Mallards hunkering down on a small pond in Manawatu this morning (Photo: Matt Kavermann)

The last couple of weeks have seen some good conditions for shooting, and those who got out amongst it did reasonably well; however, this southerly system is expected to be more intense than anything we've had so far - so do make the most of it.      

Remember that there are still plenty of game bird hunting opportunities after the duck season closes on Sunday - this includes upland game and the extended swan season in the Wellington Fish & Game region (more details on both below). 

We'd love to see hunters from other regions come and participate in the swan hunting that runs through to the last Sunday in August, with a liberal bag limit of 15 birds per day making it worth the trip.      

Don't forget to keep those upland game and swan photos coming in, as well as pics from your final weekend out hunting ducks - there's a great prize up for grabs so check out the section down-page for details on how to enter. 

Meanwhile, here's the outlook for the last weekend of the main waterfowl season... It should be a ripper so make the most of this last opportunity for 2026.   

Very Strong Southerly Barreling In!    

The brighter the colour, the more intense the wind. (Credit: Windy.com)

A very strong southerly funnels up the lower North Island, building in intensity from this evening. 

This continues throughout Friday and, while it backs off a bit on Saturday, most parts of the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions can still expect blustery conditions throughout the day. 

Sunday sees the wind ease further but it will still be strong enough around coastal areas of both regions to get ducks bouncing around. 

As mentioned, there are rain and heavy downpours associated with this southerly. That should mean standing water on paddocks which will be a magnet for mallards and parries. 

If you're hunting rivers and streams, be particularly careful as these could rise rapidly.

The upshot is that birds that have been using these quieter river reaches and secluded streams as a refuge will be forced out by rising water levels. 

It's all on for the weekend. Get out and enjoy it but rug up - it'll be cold! 

As always, check the latest conditions on Windy.com before making your plan for the weekend.    

JK Donald Block - Access For Extended Swan Season

Owing to track conditions on the farm used to access the JK Donald Block, any hunters wanting to go through the property to target swan over the extended season (June 29 to August 30) must contact the landowner first.

Please email us if you do not have their contact number.

A reminder that hunters must also have the following:

• A 2026 JK Donald Block sticker.
• A valid permit book.

The sticker and permit book can be obtained via our office. Please email us for details.   

Extended Season For Black Swan 

After the main waterfowl season ends this Sunday (June 28), the bag limit on black swan increases from five birds per person per day, to 15 birds per person per day in the Wellington region. 

We're also seeking interest amongst hunters for organised black swan hunts in areas of the Wellington Fish & Game region where landowners are experiencing challenges with nuisance swan aggregations on pasture and crops, particularly around Lake Wairarapa.

If there's enough interest, we'll look to facilitate access to properties and hunting locations around a weekend or two in July/August.

Please click here to let us know if you and your hunting party are keen to participate, and we'll keep you informed of upcoming opportunities.   

Photo Comp - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

Glenn Southee's "best friend" Charlie on the job in Woodville.

Send in your photos from this game bird hunting season and you could be in to win a $300 voucher to spend in store at Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing.

We're also going to throw in a copy of Pete Ryan's amazing new hunting book - Riding The Echo Down.    

We won't blow your secret spot, just include the name of the hunter(s), photographer's details, and general location in the Wellington or Taranaki Fish & Game region.

Click here to submit your entry.    

You can send us as many hunting photos as you like.

By submitting images to enter the competition you acknowledge that Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game, and Wairarapa Hunting and Fishing, can publish and use the photos for publicity material.

Entries must be in by 8:30pm, August 30, 2026. The winner will be notified via email.

Upland Game Hunting Opportunities

With the main waterfowl season closing, hunters can shift attention to upland game species which can be hunted until Sunday, August 30. 

There are several spots in the Wellington & Taranaki Fish & Game regions where hunters can target these exciting species.

As well as populations on public land, we've negotiated access to a number of forestry blocks which hold reasonable numbers of birds.   

Some blocks are run though a weekly ballot, others are on a first-come-first served basis. 

If you'd like info on pheasant and quail hunting opportunities in the lower North Island please get in touch with us... Click on the region below to make an enquiry. 

Wellington region.

Taranaki region.  

Sights Set On Pūkeko 

William Dannefaerd happy with his harvest (Photo: Brad Dannefaerd)

Remember that Pūkeko can also be hunted through to August 30 in both regions! 

They offer a rewarding and productive hunting opportunity, with recent population trend counts indicating stable numbers throughout the Wellington and Taranaki regions.

Organising a pūkeko drive not only provides great shooting, but offers real value to farmers, especially in the wetter parts of the regions where the numbers of these birds are higher and they can damage maize and horticultural plantings and peck holes in silage wrap.

From a culinary perspective, pūkeko are an underrated gamebird with flavourful breast meat that is well worth taking the time to prepare. We have some great resources on preparing pūkeko after harvest, including how to breast them, and tasty ways to prepare them.

Good hunter/farmer relationships are key to getting access and ensuring mutual benefit. If you’re looking to get a drive organised, now is a great time to ask around. It could be the start of an ongoing arrangement that not only helps with pūkeko control but may also open doors for future game bird hunting opportunities.

An effective drive doesn’t require a big crew, just a few mates and (helpful, but not essential) a couple of steady dogs working in formation can be enough to flush birds and put on a productive hunt.

Video Of The Week - Late Season Duck Calling 

Master caller and founder of Zink Calls, Fred Zink, teaches you the art of soft calling for late-season duck hunting.

To learn how to effectively use soft calls to bring in wary ducks and improve your success, click the screenshot above... 

Want Some Help With A Duck Pond Project?

Looking to create a duck pond or improve your existing one? Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game are happy to help with expert advice and may even be able to secure funding to assist with the project. 

Whether you want to hold ducks on your pond longer, or are aiming to create an entirely new wetland from that unproductive boggy paddock, we have the staff expertise and experience. 

Drop us an email and we'll call to discuss your plans and how we can help.

For Wairarapa - contact Hamish.
For Manawatu/Rangitikei - contact Matt.
For Taranaki - contact Allen. 

Swan Hunting Tactics

We've got tips and tactics to help hunters harvest more black swan (Photo: Nick King)

Wellington Fish & Game staff have just completed an online resource to help hunters be more successful when targeting black swans.

With an extended season on swan in the region, and liberal bag limits, we're trying to encourage hunters to harvest more of these challenging and under-utilised game birds. 

The resource is part of our Hunting Knowledge Hub and includes a raft of tips and some tasty recipes to make the most of the meat, including guidance on how to age birds and then decide on how best to cook them.

Click here to download a copy. 

Keep Those Band Returns Coming

Thanks to all those hunters who have sent through their band returns to date. 

If you harvest a banded bird, we encourage you to report it via the Fish & Game website.

In return, you’ll receive a summary of the bird’s history, including the year and approximate location it was banded, its age and sex at the time and how far it travelled between the banding and recovery site (you can keep the band, we just need the information on it).

Every valid band report is automatically entered into the draw for prizes through Fish & Game’s Banding Together initiative.

Pukepuke Lagoon Access

There has been no change to status of access at Pukepuke Lagoon Conservation Area this season. 

Wellington Fish & Game has sought clarification on access to Pukepuke on behalf of our hunters.

The official position we’ve been given from those in charge of administering the site is that public access is restricted until further notice.

They state that this is to enable safe and unimpeded access for monitoring and investigation of the lake drying and mass mortality of eels, which lead to the wetland being closed several weeks ago. 

Understandably there is frustration amongst those who have hunted Pukepuke in the past, however, Wellington Fish & Game has no authority to challenge the current closure.

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