Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary
Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary is a 2,395 ha block in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, sitting on the central plateau between the Ruahines and Tongariro country. It has its own permit area and is a sanctuary established for native forest values, but hunting is permitted.
Elevations run from about 743 m up to 1,105 m, with a median around 982 m. None of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline, so it stays as bush country across the full block — high-country bush rather than tops. The dominant aspect is south, with shaded southerly and south-westerly sidles taking the biggest share and useful west-facing country as well. That gives cool, feed-holding sidles through much of the block.
Game on the permit includes red deer, sika and wild goat. Hihitahi sits within the central North Island sika range, and at this elevation and country type it is classic sika-and-reds bush hunting.
Open Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 6,897 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 743–1,105 m
- Median elevation
- 982 m
- Middle 50%
- 937–1,025 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
743–1,105 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning south-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Zekes Hut sits inside the block — a basic DOC hut with heating, mattresses and non-flush toilets, water from a tap that needs boiling before use. It is non-bookable, so plan for a tent as backup. There are no other huts or formal campsites inside the block.
Air access by helicopter is not permitted here. The block is not flagged for wild animal recovery operations (WARO), so hunters are not sharing the country with commercial helicopter crews.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
A DOC hunting permit is required, taken out under the Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary permit area. The block is classed as Ordinary with hunting permitted year-round, so there is no ballot to work around — but as a sanctuary check current DOC conditions before planning a trip.
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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