Waipunga Forest
Waipunga Forest is a 11,332-hectare block in the Whirinaki / Rangitaiki permit area, sitting in the inland Hawke's Bay back country on the Napier–Taupo divide between the Kaweka and Whirinaki country. Elevations run from 488 m to 1,127 m with a median of 867 m, putting the block in hill country country just below the bushline.
The block leans west, with significant east, south-west and north-west aspects across a long run of bush ridges. Expect podocarp and beech country typical of the wider Whirinaki–Kaweka margin, with deeply incised gullies and broken ridge tops.
The block carries red deer, sika and wild pig — Waipunga sika are part of the central North Island herd and the scale of the block gives hunters plenty of country to spread out in.
Open Waipunga Forest on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 32,016 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 488–1,127 m
- Median elevation
- 867 m
- Middle 50%
- 780–938 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
488–1,127 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Helicopter access is not permitted on this block, so this is walk-in country. Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are permitted, so commercial helicopter shooting can be expected at times.
Upper Matakuhia Hut sits within Waipunga Forest. It is non-bookable and offers mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. There are no DOC campsites within the block.
Huts & campsites
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 Whirinaki/Rangitaiki permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
A DOC hunting permit is required for the Whirinaki / Rangitaiki permit area, covering this Ordinary block. The block has Permitted hunt status, so no ballot applies and permits can be drawn through the standard DOC online system before each 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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