Fish & Game New Zealand

Fish & Game New Zealand We manage, maintain and enhance sports fish and game birds, and their habitats in New Zealand. We encourage open and candid discussions and debates.

Fish & Game NZ manages, maintains and enhances sports fish and game birds and their habitats in the best long-term interests of present and future generations of anglers and hunters. Our vision
A New Zealand where freshwater habitats and species flourish, where game bird hunting and fishing traditions thrive and all Kiwis enjoy access to sustainable wild fish and game resources. Guidelines

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ure our page is used constructively and for the good of everyone we have established some community guidelines. To ensure our social media channels are used constructively and for the good of the community, we have established some community rules.

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Material featured on this page is protected by copyright owned by Fish & Game.

Want to know why your decoy spread isn't pulling birds in? Fish & Game magazine contributor Paul Stenning shares decades...
04/06/2026

Want to know why your decoy spread isn't pulling birds in? Fish & Game magazine contributor Paul Stenning shares decades of hard-won knowledge on rigging decoys to suit the conditions, from tidal rivers to soft mud walk-ins. If you've ever had ducks flaring at your spread or decoys drifting off in the wind, this one's for you.

https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/game-bird-hunting-in-new-zealand/follow-the-hunt/hunting-blogs/decoy-rigging-more-than-a-weight-on-a-bit-of-string/

Learn more here https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/game-bird-hunting-in-new-zealand/hunting-knowledge-hub/decoys/

The game bird issue of Fish & Game NZ magazine is available to read online now. With a print readership of 130,000 and a total audience of 208,000 across print and digital, we're one of New Zealand's most widely read magazines and every issue is packed with stories for hunters and anglers.
https://782c075b.flowpaper.com/FGIssue62WEB/ =1

More active weather systems are moving across the country now we’re into winter, improving bird movement and opening up ...
04/06/2026

More active weather systems are moving across the country now we’re into winter, improving bird movement and opening up more active hunting windows across the regions.

That means grabbing a day licence and getting out this weekend is worth the effort.

Weather fronts move birds, and there is nothing quite like heading out into the wild with people you care about and coming home with wild kai for the table.

There is plenty of season still ahead, and the opportunity is there for persistent hunters who stay adaptable and ready to move when conditions shift. Don't wait for perfect conditions. Watch for the right ones, and make the most of them when they arrive.

Adults can pick up a day licence for $27, or $10 for juniors (12–17). Day licences entitle the holder to hunt or kill game during one day in the open season across all regions.



https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/game-bird-hunting-in-new-zealand/hunting-licences-and-regulations/standard-licence-options/

Fish & Game New Zealand is the statutory agency established under the Conservation Act 1987 to manage and regulate freshwater fishing and game bird hunting in New Zealand. All fishing and game bird hunting activities promoted on this page are legal, regulated recreational activities in New Zealand. A valid Fish & Game licence is required to fish for sports fish or hunt game birds in New Zealand. Licence conditions, bag limits, and season dates are set by Fish & Game in accordance with New Zealand Wildlife and Conservation law.

Great opportunity for women in the North Canterbury area.
03/06/2026

Great opportunity for women in the North Canterbury area.

Ladies, have you ever wanted to give fly fishing a go?

For the first time in North Canterbury, we’re hosting a Women’s Introduction to Fly Fishing Course. A relaxed and welcoming day to learn, connect, and build confidence on the water.

Led by experienced South Island fishing guides Shelen Scout Boyes & Hannah Clement, this course covers all the essentials, from casting and knots to understanding trout and river safety. No experience needed!

📅 Saturday 19 September 2026

📍 North Canterbury Fish & Game Office, Harewood

🥪 Lunch provided

With only 10 spaces available currently, this is a supportive group where you’ll get plenty of hands-on help.

This is a great chance to learn something new and be part of a growing community of women in fishing!

Express your interest here: https://forms.gle/bCjD8CnonDbeD7gG9

Finding a great duck hunting spot isn't luck, it's a craft. In the game bird issue of Fish & Game magazine, Hamish Carna...
01/06/2026

Finding a great duck hunting spot isn't luck, it's a craft. In the game bird issue of Fish & Game magazine, Hamish Carnachan walks through the art of scouting private land, the door-knock dance with farmers, and how to hold onto access once you've earned it.

https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/game-bird-hunting-in-new-zealand/follow-the-hunt/hunting-blogs/how-to-find-hunting-spots-scouting-and-door-knocking/

Learn more here: https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/game-bird-hunting-in-new-zealand/hunting-knowledge-hub/where-to-hunt/

The game bird issue of Fish & Game NZ magazine is available to read online now. With a print readership of 130,000 and a total audience of 208,000 across print and digital, we're one of New Zealand's most widely read magazines and every issue is packed with stories for hunters and anglers.

https://782c075b.flowpaper.com/FGIssue62WEB/ =1

🦆 ReWild Your Kai winner!Congratulations to Jarrad Christie, whose Asian Fusion Paradise Duck Tacos has won our prize pa...
29/05/2026

🦆 ReWild Your Kai winner!

Congratulations to Jarrad Christie, whose Asian Fusion Paradise Duck Tacos has won our prize pack.

Jarrad marinated paradise duck breasts overnight in Chinese five-spice, hoisin, and ginger, pan-seared them and served them up in homemade tortillas with crisp Asian slaw and a hoisin-lime drizzle. Even the tacos were made from scratch.

His mission? To change the conversation around paradise duck meat – proving it doesn't have to be gamey when it's handled and cooked with care.

The full recipe is now live on our game bird Knowledge Hub at fishandgame.org.nz https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/game-bird-hunting-in-new-zealand/hunting-knowledge-hub/recipes

📸 Got a favourite game bird recipe? We want to see it. Email your recipe and a photo of the finished dish to [email protected] before 30 June 2026 for your chance to win our award-winning wild food cookbook, a Fish & Game camo cap, and camo lens cleaner.

Long weekend incoming – use Saturday to scout before you hunt Sunday and Monday. 🦆Here's what to focus on:1. Find the bi...
28/05/2026

Long weekend incoming – use Saturday to scout before you hunt Sunday and Monday. 🦆
Here's what to focus on:
1. Find the birds Look for where they're roosting, feeding, or travelling. Binoculars are essential; a spotting scope lets you assess numbers without spooking them.
2. Work the riverbed A boat trip can help you locate duck camps. If you find birds sitting, don't stop – keep moving quietly past. They'll likely return if they haven't been pressured.
3. Watch how they behave Note how birds are sitting on the water, which direction they're facing, and how spread out they are. Replicating this in your decoy spread makes it look far more natural.
4. Sort your concealment Even a great decoy spread will flare birds if there's movement or unnatural shapes nearby. Match your hide to the surrounding environment and keep movement to a minimum.
A few hours behind the binoculars this Saturday could set you up for a hunt to remember.

📖 For more read the scouting guide in our Knowledge Hub: https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/game-bird-hunting-in-new-zealand/hunting-knowledge-hub/when-to-hunt/
📷 Hamish Carnachan

Fish & Game CE Corina Jordan reflects on the deeply held values that have made for a successful start to the game bird s...
27/05/2026

Fish & Game CE Corina Jordan reflects on the deeply held values that have made for a successful start to the game bird season.

Corina Jordan reflects on the deeply held values that have made for a successful start to the game bird season.

Rivers, lakes, rain, wetlands. Wellington publisher Landing Press is collecting poems about water – and reckon our commu...
26/05/2026

Rivers, lakes, rain, wetlands.
Wellington publisher Landing Press is collecting poems about water – and reckon our community has something to say.
• No experience needed.
• Up to three poems, max 40 lines each.
• Deadline 30 June 2026.
• Your own words only – no AI assistance.

Submit to [email protected] or find out more at www.landingpressnz.com

🍽️ Game bird hunting gets you access to some of the finest wild kai you'll find anywhere.Highly prized by chefs around t...
25/05/2026

🍽️ Game bird hunting gets you access to some of the finest wild kai you'll find anywhere.

Highly prized by chefs around the world, wild game birds are incredible eating. But getting the best out of them starts in the field, not the kitchen. Knowing how to handle, pluck, and prepare your birds properly makes all the difference.

Our Game Bird Preparation, Butchery and Cooking section covers food safety, how to pluck and prepare a duck, and how to breast a bird for the table.

Head to fishandgame.org.nz to explore the Hunting Knowledge Hub.

New to game bird hunting or after handy tips and info? We've got you covered. Everything you need for game bird hunting, all in one place.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jools Topp, twin sister of our beloved Fish & Game Patron Dame Lynda T...
24/05/2026

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jools Topp, twin sister of our beloved Fish & Game Patron Dame Lynda Topp.
Lynda and her family have shared that Jools was "wise, courageous, generous, inspiring and funny" - a true warrior woman who will be missed beyond measure.
The Topp Twins have been a treasured part of New Zealand life for decades, and we know this loss will be felt widely. Our thoughts are with Lynda, Bruce, Jean, and everyone who loved Jools.
Rest well, Jools. 💙

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