39 - Upper Te Naihi River
Block 39 - Upper Te Naihi River is a 5,343 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, sitting high in the Te Naihi headwaters. Elevations run from 248 m on the valley floors up to 2,324 m on the divide, with a median of 1,229 m.
With 53% of the block above the 1,200 m bushline and 25% above the 1,500 m alpine line, this is predominantly alpine country — open tussock, scree, head basins and bluffs broken up by bush on the lower faces. Slopes lean west on the dominant aspect.
The block carries red deer, tahr and chamois. The combination of bush-edge for deer and serious alpine ground for tahr and chamois makes this a strong option on the South Westland ballot for hunters chasing all three.
Open 39 - Upper Te Naihi River on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 17,811 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 248–2,324 m
- Median elevation
- 1,229 m
- Middle 50%
- 899–1,499 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 53%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 25%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
248–2,324 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning west-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 permitted, including helicopters, which is the practical way into a block of this kind at this elevation. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopters may be working in the same country.
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.
This block sits within a DOC air-access zone — fly-in hunting and helicopter drop-offs may be permitted.
A DOC hunting permit is required. Upper Te Naihi River 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.
Get roar & 1080 alerts for the areas you hunt
We'll email you when pesticide operations, ballot dates or access conditions change for West Coast.
Sign up →