Hunting Licensing & Permits in New Zealand

New Zealand has no single "hunting licence" for deer, tahr, chamois, or pigs. Instead, getting legal to hunt comes down to two separate things: being licensed to use a firearm, and holding permission to hunt the land you want to hunt. This guide walks through both, in the order you should tackle them.

This page is a plain-English overview. The Firearms Safety Authority and the Department of Conservation are the authoritative sources — always confirm current requirements with them before you travel or hunt. Links are at the bottom of the page.

The three things you need

1. A firearms licence — to legally possess and use a rifle or shotgun.
2. A permit or permission for the land — a free DOC permit on public conservation land, or the owner's permission on private and forestry land.
3. Any extra approvals for your situation — a dog permit, a balloted-block place, or an endorsement for restricted firearms.

Work through them in that order. The firearms licence takes the longest, so start there.

Step 1 — Get your firearms licence

Firearms licences are issued by Te Tari Pūreke – the Firearms Safety Authority. A standard licence lets you possess and use sporting rifles and shotguns without further endorsement — which covers almost all big-game hunting.

Key points:

• Minimum age is 16. Under-16s can still hunt, but only under the immediate supervision of a licence holder who is within reach and able to control the firearm.
• The process includes a firearms safety course and test, a written application, interviews with you and your referees, and vetting by the Authority.
• Pistols, prohibited, and restricted firearms require additional endorsements — not normally needed for hunting.
• Overseas visitors staying less than 12 months can apply for a visitor firearms licence, or hunt under the immediate supervision of a New Zealand licence holder.

Allow several weeks to a few months for a licence to be granted. If you are travelling to New Zealand to hunt, apply for your visitor licence well in advance.

Step 2 — Get a DOC hunting permit (public conservation land)

A large share of New Zealand's huntable land is public conservation land managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). To hunt it you need a DOC hunting permit.

• Permits are free and applied for online through DOC's hunting permits system.
• Every hunter must hold their own permit — one permit does not cover a party.
• A permit is required whatever weapon you use, including bow and crossbow hunting, and even when you are being supervised.
• You generally need a valid firearms licence to be issued a permit (or to be named as a supervised hunter under one).
• Permits are issued for specific hunting areas (blocks) and date ranges. Read the conditions on your permit — they cover what you may take, access methods, and any restrictions.
• Some popular blocks are not open permit — they are allocated by ballot during peak periods such as the roar. See our hunting ballots guide.

Always check the current pesticide-operation status for your block before a trip. Large 1080 operations can close access for days at a time — our interactive map shows current operations as a layer.

Step 3 — Get permission for private and forestry land

You may not hunt private land, leasehold high country, or plantation forestry blocks without the owner's explicit permission.

• Contact the landowner or station directly, or the forestry company that manages a plantation block. Many forestry companies run their own recreational hunting permit systems.
• Permission usually needs to cover vehicles, firearms, and dogs specifically — ask.
• The New Zealand Outdoor Access Code sets out the courtesies and responsibilities expected of anyone crossing or using land that is not their own.
• Some high-country stations carry public access easements. Check Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa (the Outdoor Access Commission) before assuming a route across leasehold country is open.

Hunting dogs

If you intend to hunt with dogs — pig dogs or indicating dogs — you may need a dog permit in addition to your hunting permit, depending on the block. Some areas require kiwi-aversion training for dogs, and others exclude dogs entirely to protect ground-nesting native birds. The conditions attached to your DOC permit will tell you.

Quick checklist before you hunt

Where this information comes from

We keep this guide aligned with New Zealand's official and statutory sources. Confirm the current detail with them directly:

• Firearms Safety Authority — apply for a firearms licence
• DOC — hunting permits
• DOC — apply for a hunting permit online
• NZ Game Animal Council — licensing and permits
• Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa — the Outdoor Access Commission