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Angling regulations are updated annually. Each region has
specific regulations for individual rivers and lakes within the
framework of national angling regulations.
CONTACT
Office: Palmerston North: 292 Featherston St
Postal Address P O
Box
1325, Palmerston North 4440
Phone and Fax (06) 359 0409, Fax (06) 356 2780
Email:
admin@wellingtonfishgame.org.nz
Administration: Sue Wray
Regional Manager: Phil Teal
Environmental Officer: Corina Jordan
Senior Field Officer: Steve Pilkington
Field Officer: Nic Cudby
The Wellington Region encompasses the area roughly from
Waiouru, across to Norsewood and south to
Cook Strait. It includes four large river
catchments: the Rangitikei, Manawatu, Ruamahanga, and Hutt which
provide a very diverse range of opportunities for principally
brown trout river fishing. The Rangitikei and Manawatu rivers
have both significant brown and rainbow trout fisheries. The
diversity of local angling opportunities ranges from spectacular
wilderness backcountry streams in the Kaimanawa, Ruahine, or Tararua Forest
Parks to highly
productive rivers on the doorstep of urban centres of Wellington, Masterton, and Palmerston
North.
INFORMATION FOR ANGLERS
Angler Access
Access in general is one of the key barriers to participation
of anglers and hunters, especially when you want to explore new
and different sites. Wellington Fish & Game have embarked on a
project to improve access information, through production of a
new series of information pamphlets and on the ground signage to
denote angler access. In most situations we will be endeavouring
to match up numbers on the access pamphlets to sign numbers on
the ground-to confirm you are actually in the right spot.
Legal public access along many of the river and streams in
the Wellington Fish & Game Region is often fragmented. There are
several angler access pamphlets available that are a guide to
show where anglers have unencumbered public access and where
permission for landholders is required. These are provided for
the main river systems and many of their tributaries. Public
access is available over much of the lower Rangitikei downstream
of the confluence with the Kauwhata but further upstream
permission from landowners is generally required. On the Hutt River
public access is readily available at various points downstream
from
the Akatarawa confluence.
Access information is available for:
-
Kapiti Coast Rivers-Otaki, Waikanae, Ohau
- Ruamahanga
River
- Waiohine
River
- Upper
Manawatu
River
- Mangatainoka River
- Makuri
River
- Pohangina
River
- Lower
Manawatu
River
-
Rangitikei River-mid and lower reaches
- Hautapu
River
These can be obtained free from any sports fish licence agent
or send a self addressed envelope with your request to PO BOX
1325 Palmerston North, or phone
   06
359 0409.
RIVERLINE-Whats the river like today? Phone 0900 TROUT
0900
87688
The RIVERLINE information service tells you whether a river
is clear or turbid (dirty) and able to be fished or not. It is
regularly updated and the information can also be found on the
Fish & Game NZ website (www.fishandgame.org.nz)
under section Wellington Region/Fishing.
This can save anglers many wasted kilometres of travel. Calls
cost 90 cents per minute-to cover costs of service-the number to
ring is 0900 TROUT or
0900
87688.
REGULATIONS
Reference to Description: New Zealand Gazette, No. 83, 24 May 1990, page 1861
1. DEFINITIONS
See first schedule.
2. OPEN SEASON, FISHING METHODS, DAILY BAG LIMITS AND
LENGTH LIMITS
Permitted Methods definition:
F = Fly fishing only
FS = Fly, Spin fishing only
FSB = Fly, Spin or Bait fishing
Maximum size limit means all trout longer than the specified
length must be released.
There is no minimum size limit in any water in the Wellington
Fish and Game region.
Lakes / Rivers
|
Open Season
|
Permitted Methods
|
Daily Bag Limits
|
Length Limits
|
|
All other waters not listed below
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
All coastal dune lakes
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Akatarawa
River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Hautapu River upstream from the road bridge
numbered 741/1096 on
State Highway 1 by the Taihape
Golf Club
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
F
|
1
|
Maximum
550mm
|
|
Hautapu River downstream from the road
bridge numbered 741/1096 on
State Highway 1 by the Taihape
Golf Club
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Henley,
Lake
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Hokowhitu Lagoon (also known as Centennial Lagoon)
|
All year
|
FSB
|
Rainbow or
Brown Trout 1
All other sports fish no limit
|
None
|
|
Hutt River
|
All year
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Kahuterawa Stream
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Kawhatau
River
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Kopuaranga
River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
F
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Kourarau Dam (Upper) Reservoir
|
All Year
|
FSB
|
Rainbow or
Brown Trout 1
All other
sports fish no limit
|
None
|
|
Lake Wairarapa
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Makakahi
River, upstream from
the road bridge at Eketahuna
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Makakahi
River, downstream
from the road bridge at Eketahuna
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Makiekie
River (Coal Creek)
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Makuri River upstream from the township
bridge
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
F
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Makuri River downstream from the township
bridge
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
None
|
|
Manawatu
River upstream from
the Maunga Road Bridge
(upstream of Dannevirke)
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
None
|
|
Manawatu
River downstream
from the
Maunga
Road
Bridge
(upstream
of Dannevirke)
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Mangaohane Stream
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
550mm
|
|
Mangahao
River upstream from
Marima Reserve Bridge
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Mangahao
River downstream
from
Marima
Reserve
Bridge
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Mangaone
River (a tributary
of the
Tiraumea
River)
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Mangaroa
River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Mangatainoka
River upstream from
the
Scarborough
Konini
Road
Bridge
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
2
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Mangatainoka
River downstream
from the
Scarborough
Konini
Road
Bridge
|
All year
|
FS
|
2
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Mangatarere Stream
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
F
|
1
|
None
|
|
Mangatoro
River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
F
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Moawhango
River
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Ohau River
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Oroua River and its tributaries upstream
from the Ruahine Forest Park boundary
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
None
|
|
Oroua River downstream from the Ruahine
Forest Park boundary
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Otaki River and its tributaries upstream
from the Tararua Forest Park boundary
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
None
|
|
Otaki River downstream from the Tararua
Forest Park boundary
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Pakuratahi Stream
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Pohangina
River
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Pourangaki
River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Rangitikei
River and its
tributaries upstream of the Ohinewaione Stream
confluence (about 9 river kilometres upstream of the
Springvale
Bridge) (refer
to clause 4 of this part of the notice)
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
550mm
|
|
Rangitikei
River upstream from
the
Matawhero
Road
Bridge
(commonly called the
Mangaohane
Bridge) to the
Ohinewaione Stream confluence
|
All year
|
FS
|
2
|
Maximum
550mm
|
|
Rangitikei
River downstream
from the
Matawhero
Road
Bridge
(commonly called the
Mangaohane
Bridge)
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Ruamahunga
River and its
tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park
boundary
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
None
|
|
Ruamahunga
River downstream
from the Tararua Forest Park boundary
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Tauherenikau
River and its
tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park
boundary
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
None
|
|
Tauherenikau
River downstream
from the Tararua Forest Park boundary
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Tauweru River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Tiraumea
River
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Tokomaru
River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Turitea Stream
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Upper Kourarau Dam
(except all inflowing streams)
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
Maximum
550mm
|
|
Waikanae
River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
None
|
|
Waipoua River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Waingawa
River and its
tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park
boundary
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
550mm
|
|
Waingawa
River downstream
from the Tararua Forest Park boundary
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Wainui River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Wainuiomata
River downstream
from the main township bridge
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
F
|
1
|
Maximum
550mm
|
|
Waiohine
River and its
tributaries upstream from the Tararua Forest Park
boundary
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FSB
|
1
|
None
|
|
Waiohine
River downstream
from the Tararua Forest Park boundary
|
All year
|
FSB
|
No limit
|
None
|
|
Waitawa, Lake (Otaki)
[Forest Lake]
|
All year
|
FSB
|
Tench 0
|
|
|
Whakatikei
River
|
1 Oct 30 Apr
|
FS
|
1
|
Maximum
450mm
|
|
Whitby Lakes
|
All year
|
FSB
|
Tench 0
|
|
3. COARSE FISHING WATERS
- Lake Waitawa
(Otaki) (catch & release)
-
Upper and Lower Whitby Lakes
(catch & release)
- Lake Wairarapa
-
Ruamahanga Cut-off
4. WELLINGTON
BACKCOUNTRY FISHERIES
The following waters are designated as Backcountry Fisheries,
meaning all anglers fishing these waters will need a Backcountry
Licence as defined in the Sports Fish Licences, Fees and Forms
Notice 2009 and the provisions of that notice apply to this
notice:
- Upper Rangitikei
River and its
tributaries upstream of the Ohinewaione Stream confluence
(about 9 river kilometres upstream of the Springvale Bridge).
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