Hunting NZ

Hunting in Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay

Overview

Hawke's Bay is defined by the Kaweka Range — a 63,000 ha block of beech-topped ridges and bush valleys running north from the Napier–Taupō road, forming the western wall of the region. The Kaweka is one of the most accessible and most hunted forest parks in the North Island: the combination of sika and red deer, a good hut network, and day-trip distance from Napier and Hastings means it draws hunters consistently through the roar.

Beyond the Kaweka, the region's remaining blocks are scattered through the Wairoa hill country — smaller reserves and conservation areas on the eastern face of the Kaimanawa/Kaweka ranges and along the coast. Pig hunting in the lower Wairoa country is productive, and goat are common on the exposed faces and slip country throughout.

What You Can Hunt

  • Sika deer — the headline species in the Kaweka. Sika are well established through the park and the adjacent Waipunga Forest, having spread from the Kaimanawa core range over many decades.
  • Red deer — mixed with sika throughout the Kaweka and the eastern blocks. Red and sika hybrids are common in the middle of the range; pure reds more prevalent at the southern and lower-altitude margins.
  • Wild pig — common through the Kaweka foothills and the Wairoa block margins. Dog hunting is traditional in the lower country.
  • Wild goat — widespread on the open faces, exposed ridges, and slip country of the Kaweka and the eastern hill blocks.

Where to Hunt

  • Kaweka Forest Park — 63,000 ha straddling the Hawke's Bay/Manawatu-Wanganui boundary. Sika and red deer throughout; pig and goat on the margins. Access from the Napier side via the Hawke's Bay rivers — Tutaekuri, Ngaruroro, and their tributaries — and from the Manawatū side via Taihape and inland roads. The park has an extensive hut network covering the main ridges and river valleys.
  • Waipunga Forest — 11,300 ha adjoining the Kaweka to the north, between the Waipunga River and the Napier–Taupō road. Red deer and sika, with pig throughout. Accessible from the highway.
  • Smaller Wairoa and Hawke's Bay blocks — a collection of conservation areas and reserves in the Wairoa and northern Hawke's Bay hill country. Generally smaller walk-ins; pig, goat, and occasional deer.

Getting In

  • Road — SH 5 (Napier–Taupō) is the northern access spine for the Kaweka; several back roads from Hastings and Napier run west into the park. SH 2 (Napier to Gisborne through Wairoa) serves the eastern and northern blocks.
  • Foot — all public hunting is foot access from the road end. The Kaweka hut network is well developed and covers most of the main hunting country.
  • Air — helicopter access into the deeper Kaweka country is used by some hunters, subject to current DOC rules. The majority of Kaweka hunting is walk-in.

Seasons & Weather

Hawke's Bay is one of the drier North Island hunting regions — the ranges catch moisture from the west but the eastern flanks and the coast are in the rain shadow.

PeriodWhat's happeningNotes
Mar–AprRed roarReliable throughout the Kaweka.
Apr–MaySika roarSika rut runs later than red — Kaweka sika peak through April into May.
Jun–AugWinterSnow on the Kaweka tops; deer drop into valley bush. Good quiet-season hunting.
Sep–NovSpringPig hunting strong; deer feeding hard on new growth.
Dec–FebSummerHot and dry on the eastern faces; dawn and dusk hunting in the valley bush.

Nor'westers off the Kaweka tops can be severe. The western faces catch the main moisture from the coast; the Hawke's Bay side is generally drier and more stable.

Gear & Conditions

Kaweka hunting is bush-stalking on beech ridges with some open tussock and scrub on the higher tops. A medium-calibre rifle (6.5mm–.308) covers sika, red deer, and goat at typical ranges of 50–200 m. Boots, gaiters, and quality waterproofs suit the ridge-and-valley character. The higher tops are exposed — layers and wind gear matter. Multi-day trips use the hut network; lightweight camping gear is needed for the longer ridge routes that pass between huts.

Permits & Regulations

A free DOC hunting permit covers the Kaweka Forest Park and all conservation land in the region. The Kaweka permit area covers the main park; adjoining blocks (Waipunga, eastern reserves) may require separate permit area coverage — check before travel. Pig dog hunting on conservation land is permitted subject to current dog-control conditions and active 1080 operations. Spotlight hunting is not permitted on conservation land.

Open the Map

Open Hawke's Bay in the full hunting map →

Kaweka Forest Park, Waipunga, and the Hawke's Bay conservation blocks — hunting areas, tracks, huts, and current pesticide operations.

Useful Links

Game animals in Hawke's Bay

Hunting areas in Hawke's Bay

12 DOC hunting blocks — species, huts, access and an interactive map for each.