Hunting in East Harbour Regional Park is by permit only and is restricted to the Gollans Stream catchment area in the Northern Forest.
This area is a mix of slopes clothed in beech and rata forest, and the valley floor contains lush semi-swamp forest including kahikatea, pukatea and nikau palms.
The Northern Forest area of East Harbour Regional Park sits between the urban areas of Eastbourne and Wainuiomata and is very popular with walkers and dog walkers. Mountain bikers have access from the Wainuiomata Hill to south east Wainuiomata along the Rata Ridge Track.
The hunting area of Gollans Stream catchment uses the Eastern Ridge, Western Ridge and the Eastern Butterfly Creek Ridge as boundaries. These are geographically well defined and provide easily distinguishable boundaries, keeping hunters away from the park's ‘urban interface’ perimeters.
Toxin Use in this Area
Poisoning and/or trapping of possums and other animals occurs in the area covered by this permit, and therefore we caution against touching any bait, lures or carcasses found.
Rodents are being controlled by the use of toxins, in bait stations, throughout large parts of the East Harbour Northern Forest, including within the designated hunting area, as well as adjoining private properties. The toxins currently being used are brodifacoum, bromadiolone and diphacinone. These poisons have a cautionary period of 3 years for feral animal consumption.
Please check the Ministry of Health Food Safety for Hunters.
Pig Hunting - Northern Forest East Harbour Regional Park
Permits are issued for a period of 10 months (May to February), there is NO pig hunting during March and April, due to deer hunting ballot.
Download the pig hunting map.
(PDF 1.8 MB)
Conditions
- The permit is issued in accordance with Greater Wellington Regional Council Bylaws for Forests, Parks and Recreation Areas 2009. The Bylaws are available at GWRC office or on our website to familiarise yourself.
- The permit must be carried with you at all times or available on your mobile device and presented to an authorised officer on request.
- The permit only allows hunting on land designated by the permit map.
- The permit holder must obtain permission to cross private land from the owner or occupier.
- The use of firearms, bows and live capture traps is prohibited.
- No more than three (3) hunting dogs are allowed per permitted hunter.
- Outside of the hunting area dogs must be leashed at all times.
- All hunting dogs must be registered and should display visual identification at all times (registration tag, branding or tattoo), or are to be micro-chipped and must be fitted with tracking collars.
- Lost hunting dogs must be reported to GWRC’s call centre as soon as possible on 0800 496 734.
- No dogs listed on a local authority database as dangerous may be used for hunting purposes in East Harbour Regional Park
- No hunting is to take place within 200 meters of any tracks or the hunting boundaries marked on permit maps.
- Carcasses and offal must be buried well away from stream beds, huts, campsites and tracks (50 meters at least).
- No gutting of carcasses near streams. Prepare the animal for removal as far away from streams as possible.
- Hunting will be permitted between 5am and 8pm. No shooting in the hours of darkness.
- Light NO fires
- Do not eat animals from this area.
- All rubbish must be removed from Greater Wellington Regional Council land by the permit holder.
- Permit holders shall exercise due care of other forest users and the environment at all times.
- This permit is not transferable and must be surrendered on demand to an authorised officer.
- Failure to adhere to these conditions will result in cancellation of the permit and/or trespass orders issued.
Apply for your permit here
Deer Hunting – Northern Forest East Harbour Regional Park
There is an annual ballot to win one of the multiple hunting periods for the entire block in April each year. Applications are made online and the ballot opens at the end of January each year and closes at the end of February.
Download the deer hunting map
(PDF 2.2 MB)
Conditions
- The permit is issued in accordance with Greater Wellington Regional Council Bylaws for Forests, Parks and Recreation Areas 2009. The Bylaws are available at GWRC office or on our website to familiarise yourself.
- The permit must be carried with you at all times or available on your mobile device and presented to an authorised officer on request.
- The permit only allows hunting on land designated by the permit map.
- The permit holder must obtain permission to cross private land from the owner or occupier.
- Both hunter and hunting partner must have a current New Zealand Firearm Licence
- No loaded firearms are to be carried on any access track outside the permit area.
- Only centre fire rifles of calibre .222 Remington or larger may be used for hunting, or crossbows and bows with a minimum drawing factor of 18kg (40lb). Shotguns, air rifles and rimfire rifles are prohibited.
- The use of bows and live capture traps is prohibited.
- No more than three (3) dogs are allowed per permitted hunter.
- Outside of the hunting area dogs must be leashed at all times.
- All dogs must be registered and should display visual identification at all times (registration tag, branding or tattoo), or are to be micro-chipped and must be fitted with tracking collars.
- Lost hunting dogs must be reported to GWRC’s call centre as soon as possible on 0800 496 734.
- No dogs listed on a local authority database as dangerous may be used for hunting purposes in East Harbour Regional Park.
- No hunting is to take place within 200 metres of any tracks or the hunting boundaries marked on the permit maps.
- Carcasses and offal must be buried well away from stream beds, huts, campsites and tracks (50 meters at least).
- No gutting of carcasses near streams. Prepare the animal for removal as far away from streams as possible.
- Hunting will be permitted between 5am and 8pm. No shooting in the hours of darkness.
- Light NO fires.
- Do not eat animals from this area.
- All rubbish must be removed from Greater Wellington Regional Council land by the permit holder.
- Permit holders shall exercise due care of other forest users and the environment at all times.
- This permit is not transferable and must be surrendered on demand to an authorised officer.
- Failure to adhere to these conditions will result in cancellation of the permit and/or trespass orders issued.
Please check the Ministry of Health Food Safety for Hunters.
Know before you go
- There are no facilities in the Northern Forest and sudden weather changes can occur.
- Fires are prohibited.
- Always carry enough warm clothes and rainwear for cold conditions.
- Check weather forecasts on Metservice before leaving and take ample high energy food for your trip.
- Let someone know your intended route, party size and return time. Always contact this person on your return.
- Read and understand the Land Safety Code.
Caring for the environment
- Keep the streams clean. Bury toilet waste in a shallow hole well away from watercourses.
- Light no fires. Take care with portable stoves, matches and cigarettes.
- Remove rubbish. Carry out what you carry in.
- Hunting is by permit only in the Northern Forest, East Harbour Regional Park.
- Foot access only. No motor vehicles or trail bikes are allowed in the Northern Forest.
- Do not damage or remove plants. Do not disturb vegetation research plots and markers.
- Do not hunt, trap, shoot or kill any bird or other native fauna.
Hunting FAQs
What bait/toxins are in the area?
Rodents are being controlled by the use of toxins in bait stations throughout large parts of the East Harbour Northern Forest, including within the designated hunting area, as well as adjoining private properties. The toxins in bait stations currently being used are brodifacoum, bromadiolone and diphacinone. These poisons have a cautionary period of 3 years for feral animal consumption.
Please check the Ministry of Health Food Safety for Hunters.
Do I need a 4WD?
No vehicle access.
Can I camp overnight?
Yes – you must be 500m from a road entrance, track or structure. The following rules apply:
- Carry in and out all equipment and rubbish
- Leave no trace of visit
- No open fires
- Human waste must be buries at least 100m away from any waterway or a ‘poo tube’ carried
Do professional cullers operate in The Northern Forest?
Yes, professional hunters cull twice a year. Once in Spring and once after the public ballot. They predominately target the periphery of the park.
What are the hours of hunting?
5.30am till 8pm. You must ensure you are out of the area by this time.
If you have any further questions please email parks@gw.govt.nz.
Hunting Ballot FAQs
How is the ballot run?
The ballot is run by an online, automated process. Successful applicants will receive an email identifying the block you have been allocated.
Is there a cost?
No cost.
What are the dates and how many blocks are available?
Hunting is for the entire block and each winner will be allocated a 2 or 3 day period. These vary year to year.
Where are the blocks in the parks?
Download the East Harbour hunting ballot blocks map
(PDF 2.2 MB)
Does my nominated partner need a firearms licence?
Yes. As the block holder you are responsible to ensure that both the Firearms Acts and the Terms and Conditions you accepted to receive the hunting block are obeyed by you and your partner at all times.
What if I win a block and my nominated hunting partner can’t make that date or pulls out, can I bring someone else?
You can change your nominated partner. However, you must let the parks team know as soon as possible so changes to your permit can be made. Please email parks@gw.govt.nz if you wish to change your hunting partner.
Will other people be present in my ballot hunting block?
No, each block is dedicated to you for the dates specified on your permit.
I have heard that you send professional hunters in prior to the ballot, is this true?
East Harbour Regional Park has professional hunters culling deer each year. These occur either in spring or autumn but not within the ballot time. This work is done to target deer and indicating dogs are used. Goats and pigs are destroyed if they are encountered.
See more Hunting
Northern Forest - multiple tree falls
