What is a hunting ballot in New Zealand?

A hunting ballot is a draw that allocates places in a popular hunting block for a set period. Ballots are used where demand is high — typically during the roar — so that hunter numbers are managed and parties are not competing for the same ground.

How do I enter a hunting ballot?

Most ballots are run by the Department of Conservation through its balloted blocks system, where you nominate a block and dates and apply before the ballot closes. Some blocks are run by other administrators, such as the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation for the wapiti ballot.

When do hunting ballots open?

Ballot timing varies by block, but roar ballots for March–April hunting generally open and close earlier in the summer. Check the ballot calendar each year, as dates move.

Do I still need a permit if I win a ballot?

Winning a ballot gives you the right to hunt that block for your allocated period. You still need a valid firearms licence, and the normal hunting permit conditions apply. See our licensing and permits guide.

Hunting Ballots in New Zealand

What balloted hunting blocks are, why they exist, which areas are balloted, and how to enter the draw for a place during the roar and other peak periods.

Some of New Zealand's best-known hunting blocks are not open to anyone with a permit. During peak periods — above all the roar — places are allocated by ballot: a draw you enter ahead of the season. This guide explains how ballots work and which blocks use them.

Ballot blocks, dates, and administrators change from year to year. Treat the list below as a guide and confirm the current detail with the block's administrator before you plan around it.

Why ballots exist

Open-permit hunting works well most of the year. But in popular country during the roar, too many parties on the same ground means crowding, safety risk, and a poorer hunt for everyone. Ballots solve that by:

Managing hunter numbers in a block during its busiest weeks.
Spreading parties out so groups are not stalking the same faces.
Giving fair access to remote or high-value areas that would otherwise be first-come, first-served.

Who runs the ballots

Most balloted blocks are administered by the Department of Conservation. Some are run by other bodies:

The Fiordland Wapiti Foundation runs the Fiordland wapiti ballot.
Rakiura Māori Lands Trust and DOC run the two booking systems for white-tailed deer on Stewart Island / Rakiura.
Greater Wellington Regional Council manages hunting in its regional parks.

Balloted blocks around New Zealand

A representative selection of balloted and booking-system blocks:

Block	Region	Species	Typical period
Molesworth roar block	Marlborough	Red deer	Mar–Apr
Wānaka roar block	Otago	Red deer	Mar–Apr
Waianakarua & Catlins-Maclennan	Otago	Red deer, pigs	Mar–Apr
Greenstone / Caples	Otago	Fallow deer	Apr–May, Jun–Sep
Leithen Bush	Southland	Red deer	Mar–Apr
Waikaia Forest	Southland	Red deer	Mar–Apr
Blue Mountains	Southland	Fallow deer, wild pig	Feb–Nov
Fiordland wapiti ballot	Fiordland	Wapiti	Mar–Apr
Haast roar block	West Coast	Red deer	Mar–Apr
Tahr ballot	West Coast	Himalayan tahr	Apr–Jun
Rakiura / Stewart Island	Southland	White-tailed deer	Booking systems
Woodhill	South Kaipara	Fallow deer	Jun–Sep

How to enter a ballot

The process is broadly the same wherever the block sits:

Find the ballot for the block you want, and note its opening and closing dates.
Apply before it closes — for DOC blocks, through the department's balloted blocks system. You nominate the block and your preferred dates, usually as a named party.
Wait for the draw. Successful applicants are notified and allocated their period.
Hunt your allocation. A ballot place does not replace the rest of the rules — you still need a firearms licence and must follow the standard permit conditions. See our licensing and permits guide.

Keep track of ballot dates

Ballot dates move every year, and missing a closing date means missing the season. The NZ Game Animal Council publishes a ballot calendar on its Better Hunting resource — a good single place to watch for key dates.

Frequently asked questions

What is a hunting ballot in New Zealand?: A hunting ballot is a draw that allocates places in a popular hunting block for a set period. Ballots are used where demand is high — typically during the roar — so that hunter numbers are managed and parties are not competing for the same ground.
How do I enter a hunting ballot?: Most ballots are run by the Department of Conservation through its balloted blocks system, where you nominate a block and dates and apply before the ballot closes. Some blocks are run by other administrators, such as the Fiordland Wapiti Foundation for the wapiti ballot.
When do hunting ballots open?: Ballot timing varies by block, but roar ballots for March–April hunting generally open and close earlier in the summer. Check the ballot calendar each year, as dates move.
Do I still need a permit if I win a ballot?: Winning a ballot gives you the right to hunt that block for your allocated period. You still need a valid firearms licence, and the normal hunting permit conditions apply. See our licensing and permits guide.