35 - Drake Flats Waiatoto
Block 35 - Drake Flats Waiatoto is a 2,541 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, in the Waiatoto catchment. Elevations run from 90 m on the valley floor up to 2,015 m, with a median of 624 m.
The country is a mix of bush and tops — around 24% of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 11% pushes above the 1,500 m alpine line. Expect heavy West Coast bush on the lower flats and faces grading into scrub, tussock and bluffy tops on the upper ridges. Slopes lean east on the dominant aspect, so morning sun catches the rising faces.
The block carries red deer, tahr and chamois. Reds work the flats and bush margins; the upper basins and ridges give hunters a realistic chance at tahr and chamois on the same trip.
Open 35 - Drake Flats Waiatoto on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 8,494 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 90–2,015 m
- Median elevation
- 624 m
- Middle 50%
- 211–1,189 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 24%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 11%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
90–2,015 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a balloted roar block — the red deer roar peaks from late March into April, and competition for the block is highest then.
Access & getting there
Air access is not permitted on this block, so hunting parties will need to walk in from the surrounding country. WARO is permitted, so commercial helicopters may still be working alongside ground-based hunters.
There are no DOC huts inside the block. Plan on fly camp or tent for any overnight trip.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Balloted Roar block block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
A DOC hunting permit is required. Drake Flats Waiatoto is a Balloted Roar block — access during the roar is allocated through DOC's South Westland ballot, with successful applicants drawing exclusive use of the block for a defined period. Outside the balloted roar window, check current DOC rules for the permit area.
1080 & pesticide status
- Pesticide (1080 or similar) has been laid in or near this block — check current dog and carcass restrictions before you hunt.
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