Fish & Game

Fish & Game NZ manages, maintains and enhances sports fish and game birds and their habitats in the best long-term interests of present and future generations of anglers and hunters.

2024/2025 Photo competition

Get a photo you have taken on the 2025/2026 Fishing Licence.

Licences on sale

Fish & Game's fishing licences are now on sale.

Our mission

Effective management of New Zealands sports fish & game resources

Fish & Game manages, maintains and enhances sports fish and game birds, and their habitats, in the best long-term interests of present and future generations of anglers and hunters. We are a not-for-profit organisation, funded through the sale of fishing and hunting licences.

FGNZ7385a Nine year old Blake Marrett had success with wormfishing on Lake Opuha with this lovely brown trout

Want to fish?

Fishing seaons opens  October 1st each year

Choose your licence

Find your Spot

Local Fishing Regulations

Want to Hunt?

Game Bird Season opens first Saturday in May

Choose your Licence

Find your spot

Local Hunting Regulations

Let's get Started

Choose your Licence

Your licence is your ticket to adventure. By law, every single freshwater fisher must have a licence to fish in our rivers and lakes.

Standard licence options

Types of fishing

There are different types of fresh water fishing. Spin fishing is the easiest and quickest way to get fishing.

Types of fishing

Getting your Gear Sorted

Rods, reels...spinners, sinkers...it's quite a list. Taking up a new sport can be a lot, but there is no need to be overwhelmed.

Getting your gear sorted

Choose your licence

Your licence is a permit to hunt game birds in line with the regulations governing the Fish & Game New Zealand region you're hunting in.

Your licence is your ticket to adventure. By law, every game bird hunter must have a licence to hunt.

Buying your licence

TBB2May16. Fish Game Rangers visit a well constructed maimai on opening day.

'How to' Hunt

Here we share general hunting advice plus tips to help you with your shooting aim. Practice makes perfect and 'getting your eye in' before opening will make it much more successful!

'How to' Hunt