Rakaia/ Mathias
Rakaia/ Mathias is a 33,059 ha public hunting block in the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers area of mid-Canterbury, sitting on the eastern flank of the Southern Alps. Elevations run from around 570 m on the river flats up to 2,600 m on the peaks, with a median of about 1,460 m.
It's a predominantly alpine block — 71% of the ground sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 46% is true alpine country above 1,500 m. Hunters get classic Rakaia headwaters terrain: braided river flats feeding into beech and shrubland, then opening into tussock tops, scree and bluffy faces toward the divide. Dominant slope aspect is south-east.
The species are red deer, tahr, chamois and wild pig. This is one of the better-known tahr and chamois blocks in central Canterbury, with reds available in the lower bush and along river margins.
Open Rakaia/ Mathias on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 106,627 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 572–2,600 m
- Median elevation
- 1,458 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,152–1,727 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 71%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 46%
- Dominant aspect
- south-east-facing
572–2,600 m, predominantly alpine, leaning south-east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted. On a block of this scale and altitude, a charter drop into the upper basins is the practical way to make the most of a short trip. WARO is permitted, so commercial helicopter activity is also a factor.
Six huts and bivvies serve hunters across the block, all in the Rangitata and Rakaia Rivers area. Mathias Hut, Evans Hut and Lyell Hut all have heating, mattresses and non-flush toilets, with tap or stream water that needs boiling. West Mathias Bivvy and Canyon Creek Bivvy are smaller — mattresses, a non-flush toilet, stream water; West Mathias has heating, Canyon Creek does not. Lauper Biv is a small mattressed bivvy. None of these huts are bookable. With six structures spread across the block, parties have plenty of multi-day options.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Canterbury 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 to hunt Rakaia/ Mathias. It's an Ordinary block with a Permitted status — permits are issued through the standard Canterbury process rather than a ballot. Permits are free but must be carried in the field.
1080 & pesticide status
- An operation is proposed for this area.
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