Ballots Bookings Permits Add the dates to your calendar See the whole year on one chart → Ballot You apply inside a window, names are drawn, and only the parties drawn may hunt the block for their period. Most of the famous blocks work this way.
Booking First come, first served. You find a block that’s free for your dates, book it online and pay.
Permit You apply to whoever owns the land — often a forestry company — pay, and hunt within their rules, usually on set days.
Apply soon Open, about to open, or with a closing date coming up. Check each organiser’s page for how to apply.
Applications Open Thu 8 Oct 2026, 9 amFri 30 Oct 2026, 4 pm Results by Thu 12 Nov 2026 Confirmation forms due Thu 26 Nov 2026, 4 pm Hunting Sat 24 Apr 2027 – Fri 25 Jun 2027Nine weekly periods, with aerial access Size 28 landing sites Fee $60, non-refundable Exactly as DOC publishes it Opens 9 am Thursday 8 October 2026 Closes 4 pm Friday 30 October 2026 by 12 November 2026 Confirmation form returns close 4 pm Thursday 26 November 2026 between Saturday 24 April 2027 and Friday 25 June 2027 The 2027 tahr ballot is nine weeks. 28 landing sites non-refundable $60 fee Applications Close Sat 31 Oct 2026 Results By the end of November 2026 Hunting Sun 21 Mar 2027 – Sat 17 Apr 2027Four seven-day periods Size 50 blocks Fee None for 2027 A predator-control operation is planned for March to June 2027 and may affect several roar blocks in Mt Aspiring National Park — check the 1080 map before you apply. Exactly as DOC publishes it Applications close Saturday 31 October 2026. by the end of November 2026 Sunday 21 March to Saturday 17 April 50 blocks available for allocation each roar There is no fee for the 2027 roar ballot. A predator control operation is also planned for March to June 2027. Applications Open Thu 1 Oct 2026Sat 31 Oct 2026 Draw Wed 4 Nov 2026 Confirm your block by Wed 18 Nov 2026 Hunting Mon 15 Mar 2027 – Sun 18 Apr 2027Two- or three-day blocks through the roar Fee $11.50 per party to apply, non-refundable Apply only through DOC's online hunting permit system — one application per party, up to five block choices. Part of DOC's Murihiku ballot group. Exactly as DOC publishes it Applications will open on 1 October 2026. Applications close on 31 October 2026. following the draw on 4 November 2026 Blocks must be confirmed by 18 November 2026. The balloted period is 15 March to 18 April 2027. Blocks are allocated through a ballot draw and are allocated for a two or three day period. The fee is $11.50 for a party to apply Applications will only be accepted through the online hunting permit system. These hunting blocks make up part of the Murihiku ballot group. Applications Open Thu 1 Oct 2026Sat 31 Oct 2026 Draw Wed 4 Nov 2026 Confirm your block by Wed 18 Nov 2026 Hunting Mon 15 Mar 2027 – Sun 18 Apr 2027Two- or three-day blocks through the roar Fee $11.50 per party to apply, non-refundable Closed to all hunting from 16 September to 19 January for lambing. Exactly as DOC publishes it Applications open 1 October 2026. Applications close on 31 October 2026. following the draw on 4 November 2026 Blocks must be confirmed by 18 November 2026. The balloted period is 15 March to 18 April 2027. Blocks are allocated through a ballot draw and are allocated for a two or three day period. The fee is $11.50 for a party to apply The block is also closed to hunting 16 September to 19 January due to lambing. Applications Open Thu 1 Oct 2026Mon 30 Nov 2026 Draw Sun 6 Dec 2026 Confirm your block by Sun 13 Dec 2026 Hunting Wed 10 Mar 2027 – Tue 13 Apr 2027Seven-day periods Size 20 blocks Fee None this year; DOC says one may come later Online only, up to five block choices, one application per party. Exactly as DOC publishes it Applications open on 1 October 2026. Applications close on 30 November 2026. following the draw on 6 December 2026 Blocks must be confirmed by 13 December 2026. The balloted period is 10 March to 13 April 2027. Blocks are allocated through a ballot draw and are allocated for a seven-day period. There are 20 blocks that are part of the roar ballot process no administration fee will be charged for the roar ballot, although this fee may be introduced in future ballots Applications are limited to five choices. Applications Open Thu 1 Oct 2026Mon 30 Nov 2026 Draw Fri 4 Dec 2026 Confirm your block by Fri 18 Dec 2026 Hunting Sat 20 Mar 2027 – Tue 20 Apr 2027Two- or three-day blocks through the roar Fee $11.50 per party to apply, non-refundable Apply only through DOC's online hunting permit system — one application per party, up to five block choices. Part of DOC's Catlins ballot group. Exactly as DOC publishes it Applications will open on 1 October 2026. Applications close on 30 November 2026. following the draw on 4 December 2026 Blocks must be confirmed by 18 December 2026. The balloted period is 20 March to 20 April 2027. Blocks are allocated through a ballot draw and are allocated for a two or three day period. The fee is $11.50 for a party to apply Applications will only be accepted through the online hunting permit system. These hunting blocks make up part of the Catlins ballot group. Animals present are red deer and pigs. Applications Open Thu 29 Oct 2026Mon 30 Nov 2026 Draw Mon 7 Dec 2026 Confirm your block by Sun 20 Dec 2026 June–September ballot opens Mon 1 Feb 2027 Hunting Thu 1 Apr 2027 – Sun 30 May 2027Five-day periods, April to May Exactly as DOC publishes it Applications will open on 29 October 2026. Applications close on 30 November 2026. following the draw on 7 December 2026 Blocks must be confirmed by 20 December 2026. Applications will open on 1 February 2027. The balloted period is 1 April to 30 May 2027. Blocks are allocated through a ballot draw and are allocated for a five-day period. Balloted every month A fresh draw each month, so there is always a next one to apply for.
Applications A new ballot every month, February to November Size 23 blocks Midweek, driving in through Ernslaw One's forest needs NZDA "approved hunter" registration. Weekend bookings don't. The pine plantations around it belong to Ernslaw One, which runs its own separate ballot — see Ernslaw One under permits below. Exactly as DOC publishes it The area has been divided into 23 hunting blocks which are balloted monthly from February through to the end of November. 23 hunting blocks Midweek vehicle access requires hunters to be registered as an Ernslaw One manage the exotic forest plantations and run their own balloted hunting blocks in that area. Vehicle access approval requirements do not apply for weekend bookings. Drawn — hunting still to come Applications have closed. These are waiting on results or on the hunting period.
Applications Open Tue 1 Sep 2026, 9 amMon 28 Sep 2026, 4 pm Results by Mon 12 Oct 2026 Confirmation forms due Mon 26 Oct 2026, 4 pm Hunting Sun 21 Mar 2027 – Sat 17 Apr 2027Four seven-day periods Size 65 blocks Fee $40, non-refundable Exactly as DOC publishes it 9 am Tuesday 1 September 2026 4 pm Monday 28 September 2026 by 12 October 2026 4 pm Monday 26 October 2026 Sunday 21 March 2027 to Saturday 17 April 2027 65 restricted blocks A one-off non-refundable fee of $40 Closed for now The last round has closed and the organiser hasn’t published the next dates. We check their page every day, and add the new dates once we’ve read them.
Applications 2027 dates not published yet. In 2026 applications closed on 24 April and the draw was on 30 April. Hunting Winter hunting in the forest, one day per hunter per year — the 2026 season ran to 20 September Fee $200 a block if you're drawn There's a separate Take A Kid Hunting ballot for young hunters. Doe permits are the default — ask for a buck permit if you want one. Exactly as WFMC publishes it 24 April Applications close for the winter ballot hunt. NOTE: One day hunt per hunter per year! 20 September Winter hunting season closes 30 April Ballot of Applications. WFMC Calendar - 2026 Successful applicants will be required to pay $200/block Take A Kid Hunting DOE permits are the default option this year - if you want a BUCK permit you need to apply for it. Applications The 2026 ballot has closed, and the next one isn't open yet. Hunting One ballot a year for two-day hunting periods in April Size 10 blocks No dogs. Greater Wellington says the ballot may end in future years, as professional control removes deer from the catchment. Exactly as Greater Wellington publishes it The application for hunting ballots is closed for 2026. There is an annual ballot to win one of forty, two-day hunting periods for the Wainuiomata blocks in April each year. There are ten Wainuiomata/Orongorongo blocks No dogs permitted there is a possibility that the ballot may be discontinued in future years Applications The 2026 ballot has closed, and the next one isn't open yet. Hunting One ballot a year for hunting periods in April, in the Gollans Stream catchment Exactly as Greater Wellington publishes it The application for hunting ballots is closed for 2026. There is an annual ballot to win one of the multiple hunting periods for the entire block in April each year. restricted to the Gollans Stream catchment area in the Northern Forest Check the organiser’s page These pages have changed since we last read them, so their dates are off this page until we read them again.
FWF’s page for this has changed since we last read it, so the details are off this page until we have read it again. Check their page directly.
Put every date in your calendar Subscribe once and your calendar keeps itself up to date — if a date moves, the event moves with it, with reminders three days and three hours before each ballot closes. No email, no account.
Google Calendar: Other calendars → From URL , then paste https://nzhunters.co.nz/ballots.ics
Booked, not balloted No draw — if the block is free for your dates, you can book it.
Booked, not balloted. Check which blocks are free for your dates and book one online.
Blocks 35 restricted blocks, booked online How far ahead Up to 12 months before you start How long Up to 10 days in one block Fee $30 per booking, non-refundable, paid within 7 days Exactly as DOC publishes it There are 35 restricted hunting blocks on Rakiura/Stewart Island. A hunting block can be booked within 12 months of the start dates if available. You can book for a maximum of 10 days at one block. There is a non-refundable $30 administration fee due per block booking. You can only hunt on a restricted hunting block if you have booked it and been issued a hunting permit. If you choose this option, you have 7 days to pay from the time you made your booking. By permit Forests, parks and land whose owners or managers publish their own way in — forestry companies, iwi and their boards, and councils. Each one decides who comes in, and you need their permit (or their club) before you set foot in it. We only list schemes that are open to the public, quoted from the organisation’s own page.
A private forestry company. Weekend hunting by permit — and its Blue Mountain forests go by ballot.
Access Permit only, in every forest When Weekends only Blue Mountains Allocated by Ernslaw One's own ballot Dogs Proof of sheep-measles dosing, and kiwi aversion training where kiwi live Exactly as Ernslaw One publishes it forests is by permit only, except for the recreation area in Naseby Forest Ernslaw One allows parts of the forest land to open for hunting permits on weekends. To enter any Ernslaw One Blue Mountain forest for hunting, please apply here to be on the ballot system. evidence of recent dosing for sheep measles is required An annual forest access permit, applied for online. Not a ballot — but you need it before you go in.
Permit Recreational Forest Access permit, every year Fee $50 per person aged 15 or over Processing Allow 14 working days When Permits are emailed around 27 April, for the hunting season Exactly as First Security publishes it must apply annually The registration fee per person (15 years and over) is $50 including GST. Please allow 14 working days for processing of recreational permits. ALL permits will be emailed to email address used on application on or around the 27 Permits for Te Urewera are issued by Te Urewera Board through Tūhoe, not DOC. Apply online on Te Urewera's own site; your permit names the areas open to hunting.
What it covers Ground-based, non-commercial hunting of deer, pigs and goats How long Four months from the day you apply, emailed to you Where Only the open or restricted area shown on your permit's map Dogs Not on this permit — pig dogs need a separate permit Firearms Centre-fire .222 Remington or larger, or bows and crossbows Private land Does not cover private Tūhoe land Exactly as Tūhoe publishes it This permit only allows ground based non-commercial hunting of introduced wild animals (deer, pigs, goats) Permits are issued for four months from the date of application and will be sent directly to you. This permit is only valid for the restricted or open hunting takiwā (area) shown on the map issued with this permit. This permit does not allow the taking of dogs into Te Urewera. This permit only allows the use of centre fire rifles of calibre .222 Remington or larger This permit does not provide a right of access over any private Tūhoe land. Hunting with pig dogs requires a separate permit. Three public hunting blocks, allocated by ballot from online applications. Walk-in, weekends, daylight only.
Blocks Two in Waipori Forest, one in Silverpeaks How allocated By a regular ballot of the applications When Weekends, daylight only; closed in high fire risk and high wind Access Walk-in only Apply Online, at least two weeks ahead Exactly as City Forests publishes it There are two public hunting blocks in the Waipori Forest and one block in the Silverpeaks Forest. will be issued after a regular ballot from the applications submitted The hunting blocks are available at weekends during daylight hours only Hunting permits are walk-in only, no vehicle access is available. to be applied for at least two weeks in advance the Waipori 3 hunting block is now managed by the Taieri District Hunting Club A hunting access permit, applied for online and vetted. The public gets walk-in access; vehicle access is for people who work in the forests.
Permit Hunting Access Permit, vetted, at the company's discretion Access Walk-in only for the public Firearms A copy of your firearms licence with the application Iwi Some areas are for Ngāti Koata hunters only Exactly as TPFL publishes it All applicants for a TPFL Hunting Access Permits will be vetted eligible to apply for a TPFL Hunting Access Permit which allows walk in access only provide a copy of their current NZ Firearms licence Ngāti Koata iwi hunters who have exclusive hunting access to specific forest areas OneFortyOne’s page for this has changed since we last read it, so the details are off this page until we have read it again. Check their page directly.
Start with Matariki's online forest induction: it is required for all access, and it is where they tell you what permit you need.
First step The online forest induction, for all access Then Permit requirements are given once you finish it Exactly as Matariki publishes it All forest access is subject to you completing our online forest induction. On completion of our online forest induction, permit access requirements will be provided. Entry by permit in selected forests over winter. Aratu says it is not taking requests for the rest of this season.
When First weekend of May to the last weekend of September Right now Not taking requests for the rest of this season Next Applications reopen mid to late April Exactly as Aratu publishes it allows entry by permit in selected forests from the first weekend of May to the last weekend of September we are not accepting public entry requests for the remainder of this season Applications will reopen in mid to late April. Port Blakely issues no hunting permits. The only way to hunt its forests is through the local, independent clubs it works with — and they set their own rules.
Permits None issued to individuals The way in Local, independent hunting clubs Exactly as Local clubs publishes it Port Blakely New Zealand does not issue individual hunting permits. New Zealand hunting access is managed separately through local, independent hunting clubs. One online form for the regional council's hunting permits. The deer ballots for Wainuiomata and East Harbour are listed separately above.
Akatarawa, Kaitoke, Pakuratahi One permit covers all three East Harbour pigs May to February; no pig hunting in March and April Firearms Centre-fire .222 Remington or larger, or bows Dogs No more than three per hunter Exactly as Greater Wellington publishes it The Akatarawa, Kaitoke and Pakuratahi areas have one permit to cover all these hunting areas. Permits are issued for a period of 10 months (May to February), there is NO pig hunting during March and April only centre-fire rifles of calibre .222 Remington or larger may be used for hunting No more than three (3) hunting dogs are allowed per permitted hunter. Juken works through local hunting clubs and iwi organisations on a permit system, rather than issuing permits to the public directly.
The way in Local hunting clubs and iwi, by permit Exactly as Clubs and iwi publishes it Juken has relationships with local hunting clubs and Iwi organisations in its regions and operates on a permit based system. Also balloted — not checked yet We only publish details once we’ve read them on the organiser’s own page. These are on the Game Animal Council’s list.
Duck-shooting stands are balloted too, by each Fish & Game region — see game birds .