37 - Charlies Ponds Waiatoto
Block 37 - Charlies Ponds Waiatoto is a 3,947 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, in the Waiatoto country. Elevations run from 34 m on the valley floor up to 2,074 m, with a median of 594 m.
The block is a mix of bush and tops — around 20% sits above the 1,200 m bushline, with a fringe pushing above 1,500 m. Expect heavy West Coast bush on the lower faces and flats grading into scrub, tussock and bluffy tops on the upper ridges. Slopes lean south-east on the dominant aspect.
The block carries red deer, tahr and chamois. Reds work the bush and bush-edge; the upper basins and ridges give hunters a realistic chance at tahr and chamois on the same trip.
Open 37 - Charlies Ponds Waiatoto on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 13,110 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 34–2,074 m
- Median elevation
- 594 m
- Middle 50%
- 151–1,103 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 20%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 6%
- Dominant aspect
- south-east-facing
34–2,074 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning south-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. Charlies Ponds 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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