Wellington/Taranaki weekly hunting report 26 June 2025

Last Chance to Bag Some Ducks 

This weekend is the final opportunity to get out and bag some ducks before the waterfowl season closes.

Reports from the field indicate moderate numbers of ducks harvested, with limited bird movements - a feature of the generally calm conditions since the wind and rain on Matariki. 

Emma Mackie (nine-years-old) on the retrieve for Dad and photographer James Mackie, public land, South Wairarapa.  

However, the birds that have been harvested are in excellent condition with stomachs full of worms and/or grain, suggesting they’re feeding well locally and there's still some ponded water lying around along with late harvested maize. 

This points to an abundance of food in both the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions, likely reducing the need for ducks to travel too far afield in search of feeding sites. 

Given these conditions, pre-hunt scouting could prove beneficial. Identifying areas where birds are actively feeding may significantly improve your chances of success.

Likewise, finding areas where hunt-wary birds have sought refuge will yield results.  

Weather for the final hit out is looking relatively promising, at least offering potential for good Friday evening and Saturday morning hunts. The southerly on Sunday could work well for those in the Wairarapa region. 

This is the last Game Bird Bulletin for the year. Thanks for tuning in, and for all the hunting reports and pictures you've sent in. We hope you've had a great season and look forward to catching up in 2026!

In the meantime, don't forget to grab maximum value from your investment in a game bird hunting licence and explore the other opportunities available to you such as upland game and pukeko in the weeks ahead. See below for details.

Here's the outlook for the weekend.  

 

Reasonable Weather For Last Hurrah   

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

Friday is forecast to bring heavy rainfall and strong northerly winds, particularly for coastal Taranaki and the Ringplain with the rain band moving inland and then down the North Island later in the day.  

While this is expected to ease into the weekend, the forecast is for variable and swirling winds that should favour hunters by disrupting predictable flight paths and encouraging bird movement.

It looks like the weather gods are again smiling on Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game region hunters, seeing us off for the season with some good waterfowl conditions.

It's a long wait 'til the first Saturday in May next year so get out and get amongst it for this last hurrah. 

Check out Windy.com for the very latest outlook. 

Get Those Band Details In 

Every band matters so if you recover one this season, please let us know via our website and you will automatically be entered into a draw to win various prizes as part of our Banding Together initiative.

You are welcome to keep the bands, all we need are the details around where and when the bird was harvested to help us with our game bird management. 

Tip of The Week - Upland Game Opportunities

Now that the main waterfowl season is nearing an end, it's time to turn your attention to upland game.

There are numerous opportunities to hunt pheasant and quail in the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions. Below are some details to help point you in the right direction.      

For further info please get in touch with either Wellington or Taranaki Fish & Game.   

- Wellington Fish & Game region

The Wellington Fish & Game region has arranged managed hunter access to several forestry blocks in Manawatu and Wairarapa.

If you're interested in learning more about the hunting opportunities here, see page 16 of this season's Wellington hunting regs booklet. To obtain permits, please email us.

The booklet also contains maps and details for a number of other areas within the region where upland game can be targeted.  

- Taranaki Fish & Game Region

Upland Hunting Access – Harakeke, Tauwhare & Nukumaru Forests

If you're keen to hunt pheasants near Whanganui, here’s what you need to know about accessing Harakeke, Tauwhare, and Nukumaru forests. To hunt in Harakeke (two blocks) or Tauwhare (one block), you’ll need to be selected through a weekly draw. These areas are open for upland game hunting only on Saturdays and Sundays. Here’s how it works:

1. Ensure you have your current game licence and firearms licence information handy, then contact Taranaki Fish & Game by either calling 021 270 0239 or emailing us to claim your free hunting permit.
2. Enter the draw by getting in touch with Fish & Game before 12 noon on Wednesday each week. You can apply for one or more blocks and days (If you're hunting with others, just one person from your group should enter).
3. You’ll be contacted on Thursday afternoon to let you know if you’ve been successful (You must win a spot in the draw to be allowed to hunt that weekend).

Nukumaru Forest – Permit Required, No Draw

You don’t need to enter a draw for Nukumaru, but you do need a valid permit from Taranaki Fish & Game (which you can also contact us for). Once you have that:

1. Contact the grazing leasee listed on your permit before you go hunting to ask for access. For Blocks 4 & 5 you must get permission directly from the leaseholder before entering these areas. This is a condition set by the Whanganui District Council.

 

Target Some Pesky Pooks

Pukeko are murder on ducklings and other waterfowl – take time to target a few through the remainder of this season (Credit: Hamish Carnachan).

Wellington Fish & Game regularly receives complaints about pukeko damaging crops and new riparian plantings, or predating ducklings and other waterfowl.

Out of season complaints are usually dealt with by issuing permits under delegated authority from DOC to allow the culling of some birds, but we would much rather see pukeko controlled by licence holders during the game season.

In the Wellington region, hunters have many weeks after the end of the duck hunting season to hold pukeko drives in areas where birds are coming into conflict with farmers and other landowners. Alternatively, they can be jump-shot around the margins of wetlands or drains, making them a great target species to teach novices how to shoot birds on the wing.

We encourage you to make the most of your game licence by getting a group together to go pukeko hunting – you’ll be surprised what challenging and rewarding shooting they offers, and breasted out they make great eating too!

Like upland game species, pukeko can be hunted right through to August 31, 2025.  

Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

Eleven-year-old Ben McHaffie with his first duck taken in Wairarapa last weekend (Photo: Bob McHaffie).   

We'd love to see some upland game pics so keep the photos coming to be in to win a $300 voucher to spend in store at Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing.

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 31, 2025. The winner will be notified via email.

Video of The Week - Chasing North Island Roosters 

 

Here's a great shot video showcasing the excitement of hunting pheasant. Don't forget you've got until the end of August to chase upland game in the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions.    

Click the screen shot above to watch.      

 

Need Some Advice On Your Duck Pond?

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. 

Firearms Safety Authority - Registry Update

This is a reminder that purchasing ammunition from a firearms dealer or ammunition seller became an activating circumstance after June 24, 2025.

This means that if you have not yet registered your firearms into the Firearms Registry, you will now need to register all the firearms and arms items in your possession within 30 days of purchasing ammunition. 

Even if you have already provided information for the registry, you must keep updating it every time something changes – for example, if you buy a new firearm or move house. 

Visit www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz for more information.

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