Makuratawhai
Makuratawhai is a 3,764-hectare ballot block on Molesworth Station and the Clarence grazing lease, in inland Canterbury. Elevations run from 720 m to 1,604 m with a median of 974 m. Sixteen per cent of the country sits above the 1,200 m bushline and only 1% is alpine, so this is foothill country — open faces, tussock and rough pasture rather than high tops.
The block leans south-east-facing, with a strong spread across south-east, south and east aspects. Cooler shaded sidles tend to hold animals through the warm hours.
Three species are listed: red deer, chamois and wild pig. Country at this scale and elevation rewards careful glassing rather than long climbs.
Open Makuratawhai on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 11,834 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 720–1,604 m
- Median elevation
- 974 m
- Middle 50%
- 854–1,132 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 16%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 1%
- Dominant aspect
- south-east-facing
720–1,604 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning south-east-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a roar — the red deer roar peaks from late March into April, and competition for the block is highest then.
Access & getting there
Helicopter access is permitted on this block, useful for fly-camping into the further corners of the lease. Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are not permitted, keeping commercial pressure low during the ballot.
There are no DOC huts inside the block and no listed campsites — successful ballot parties will need to fly-camp or work from a vehicle base on the surrounding station roads.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Roar block in the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
This block sits within a DOC air-access zone — fly-in hunting and helicopter drop-offs may be permitted.
Makuratawhai is a Roar ballot block with Restricted hunt status, under the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area. Access during the roar is allocated through DOC's ballot system, with successful parties granted exclusive use for the allotted period. Apply through DOC well ahead of the season.
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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