Date:  13 July 2026

Hosted by the Department of Conservation, the family-friendly hunt was supported by a hāngi and Pork on a Plate cooking competition.

DOC Aotea Operations Manager Fletcher Beazley says the event was hugely popular. “We had a great response to the event with over 80 hunting teams signing up,” says Fletcher.

“We were hoping to have a few more organisers, but everyone just wanted to enter the competition!

“Keeping wild pig numbers in check supports the overall forest health, so the competition helps us to reduce pig numbers whilst supporting the hunting community.

“It was really centred on the community - there were kids as young as four getting into the forest with their whānau. Sharing kai and showcasing culinary flair with the Pork on a Plate event meant we could get even more of the community involved.”

Dozens of wild pigs were culled across three hunting blocks on the island managed by DOC and private land.

Winners competed across several categories; heaviest boar, heaviest sow, biggest tusk, under 18 years - heaviest pig, and last and certainly least; hard luck story.

Local hunter Tahi Reid said “it was awesome” to get the kids involved in the sport.

“We went down some very steep terrain today. With everyone out hunting this weekend it was tricky to find somewhere no-one was going.

“Last time we had a pig hunting competition over here, down at Claris club, I was only a little grom,” says Tahi.

He took his kids out for two sessions on the first day – both a day and an evening hunting session.

“No sleep tonight – gotta do round two for hunting.”

There are three hunting blocks on Aotea where hunters are encouraged to get out naturing and enjoy the bush in the open season from 15 February to 15 December each year. Hunters must seek a permit and can bring dogs in most areas if they have a current kiwi avoidance training certificate.

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