Temple - Maitland
Temple - Maitland is a 6,360 ha public hunting block in Ruataniwha Conservation Park, Canterbury. Elevations run from around 588 m on the valley floors up to 2,258 m on the high tops, with a median of about 1,261 m.
The block works as a mix of bush and tops — roughly 54% of the ground sits above the 1,200 m bushline, and about 35% pushes into true alpine country above 1,500 m. Slopes lean east, which gives sunny morning faces for glassing and milder country than the cold western aspects.
The species list is red deer, fallow deer, tahr and chamois. The combination of fallow alongside reds, tahr and chamois on a single block is unusual for this part of Canterbury and gives hunters real variety on one permit.
Open Temple - Maitland on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 21,124 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 588–2,258 m
- Median elevation
- 1,261 m
- Middle 50%
- 991–1,651 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 54%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 35%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
588–2,258 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted, which is useful for getting into the upper basins quickly. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopter operators may be working the block.
Two huts inside Ruataniwha Conservation Park serve hunters in Temple - Maitland. South Temple Hut has heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. Maitland Hut has the same setup — heating, mattresses, non-flush toilet and stream water. Neither is bookable. Temple Campsite gives a road-end option for vehicle-based parties.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Campsites: Temple Campsite.
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 Temple - Maitland. It's an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so permits are issued through the standard Canterbury permit system rather than a ballot. Permits are free but must be carried while hunting.
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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