48 - Okuru (Head)
Block 48 - Okuru (Head) is a 4,352 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, sitting in the head of the Okuru catchment. Elevations run from 77 m on the valley floor up to 1,917 m, with a median of 896 m.
The country is a mix of bush and tops — around 26% of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline, with a fringe pushing above 1,500 m. Expect heavy West Coast bush on the lower spurs grading into scrub, tussock and bluffy tops along the upper ridges and basins. Slopes lean north on the dominant aspect, giving warmer afternoon faces.
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 48 - Okuru (Head) on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 14,487 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 77–1,917 m
- Median elevation
- 896 m
- Middle 50%
- 609–1,217 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 26%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 6%
- Dominant aspect
- north-facing
77–1,917 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning north-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 the head of a catchment like this. 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. Okuru (Head) 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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