Haast roar block ballot system

Introduction

Find out about the Haast roar block ballot system for hunting red deer in the Haast area.

December 2022 update

Haast Roar block applications closed on 23 September 2022.

Any unallocated or unconfirmed blocks are now available for booking. Book a block online. 

There will be an administration fee of $40 per block.

On this page:

This ballot is to ensure hunters have access to an area, with the knowledge that only one hunting party will be in each of the blocks for a seven-day period.

Hunters using a firearm must abide by the New Zealand Police Arms Code and the Arms Act 1983 and have a valid firearms licence.

Updates for the roar 2023

  • A one-off non-refundable fee of $40 will be charged for each application.
  • Party leaders can only enter one application. 
  • Party leaders who apply for a ballot must be intending to hunt the block with their party. Party leaders applying and successfully gaining a ballot on the behalf of others but have no intention of attending will not be tolerated. Party leaders and members found doing this will have all permits cancelled.
  • Party leaders need to supply a photo of their valid New Zealand firearms licence with their confirmation.
  • Party leader is responsible for all party members adhering to permit conditions.
  • Children / youths may not apply unless over 16 and holding a valid firearms licence.
  • Bow hunters wanting to apply in the ballot must contact the Haast Hunting Ballot team before putting in an application.

Ensure all correspondence or enquiries for the Haast roar hunting ballot are sent to haasthuntingballot@doc.govt.nz

Hunting period dates

In 2023, the roar ballot hunting periods will run from Sunday 26 March 2023 to Saturday 22 April 2023.

Available periods:

  • Period 1 – Sunday 26 March to Saturday 1 April
  • Period 2 – Sunday 2 April to Saturday 8 April
  • Period 3 – Sunday 9 April to Saturday 15 April
  • Period 4 – Sunday 16 April to Saturday 22 April

Ballot process

Apply

Applications closed 4 pm Friday 23 September 2022

All applicants will be notified by email of the outcome of the draw by 7 October 2022. If you haven’t been contacted by this date, email haasthuntingballot@doc.govt.nz or phone 03 750 0809.

Confirmation form returns close 4 pm Saturday 22 October 2022

Confirmation forms are emailed out as part of the successful email notification process.

If you need to update your party details, do so on this form and return by email. All successful ballot holders must respond by email that they accept the ballot. Unconfirmed blocks will be cancelled and made available for rebooking by other parties.

How to fill out your application

You have a choice of four blocks and four period dates, you can make a combination of choices:

  • one block for four different dates
  • four blocks for one period date
  • combination of blocks and period dates.

Make sure you use all your choices to increase your chance of being successful.

Tick the boxes with your selections, click add all at the bottom of the page this will then take you to the preference page, choose the order of preference of your blocks 1-4, this is the order we work through your application, 1 being your first choice, 4 the last choice.

The next page will ask for your party details, make sure you accept the terms and conditions then click proceed to take you to the payment screen. You will receive an email receipt confirming your application entry if none is received contact the Haast Hunting Ballot Team with your query.

Enter your application early, every season we get an estimated one/fifth of our entries on the last day, clogging up the system.

Permit issuing

Roar block permits will be issued by email over the month of February. All party members must be listed on the Restricted Hunting Permit.

If you need to make any changes to your party members, contact haasthuntingballot@doc.govt.nz for us to update your permit.

You don’t need to apply for an Open Area Hunting Permit if you are named on the Roar Block Permit.

Restricted blocks

There are 65 restricted blocks available for allocation by ballot draw. These are limited to one party per block for a 7 day period (Sunday to the following Saturday) as indicated in the period dates above. In most instances, Sunday is your first full day to hunt and Saturday is the party change over day.

Note: Open block hunting areas have been incorporated into year-round open hunting areas. You must hold an Open Area Hunting Permit to hunt on Public Conservation Land outside of your restricted roar block permit.

Apply for an open hunting permit.

Overview maps and individual hunting blocks

Haast roar block maps.

Huts

Several roar blocks have DOC huts located within their boundaries. See the hut pages below, fees are payable at all huts except for the 'basic' category.

Hunting parties don’t have sole rights to use these huts during the permit period but you need to prepare to share with other users e.g. trampers, fisherman etc.

Aircraft concessionaires

List of approved aircraft operators (PDF, 441K)

Helicopter landing 

Blocks falling within Mount Aspiring National Park have designated landing sites solely to enable access for the Roar Hunting Periods. Landing anywhere except these sites is strictly prohibited.

Permit conditions

Please report any rubbish or poorly left campsites to haasthuntingballot@doc.govt.nz so they can be followed up with the permit holders and a campsite inspection may be undertaken.

Hunters are reminded of their hunting permit conditions and to remove all rubbish and camping gear when leaving the area including all string, tarps, polythene, camping chairs, clotheslines, bottles, cans etc. No structures other than tents are to be erected and all evidence of camping removed. If you take something in with you then you must take it out with you when you leave. To encourage full utilisation of the hunting blocks, any applicants who do not comply with the requirements of the ballot or hunting permit system will jeopardise their future participation.

Track cutting is strictly prohibited.

Under the Conservation Act a fine not exceeding $100,000 can be imposed if proven/discovered (felling live trees).

Know before you go

Dogs

A dog permit is required for public conservation land and can be obtained up to a week prior from the DOC Haast Visitor Centre or office.

Dogs are not permitted in national parks/wildlife refuges or the Haast Tokoeka Kiwi Sanctuary.

1080 operations

It is your responsibility to check current online pesticide summaries for the area/block you’re hunting.

View a map of 1080 operations for Haast roar blocks (PDF, 12,787K)

Note: The Arawhata 1080 operation shown on the map has been postponed until May 2023.

Identify your target – Special permit conditions

There have been situations in the past where hunters have shot cattle on farmland adjoining hunting blocks. It is important if you have special conditions on your permit to advise the land holder of your intentions.

The permit holder is also reminded that under their permit conditions, hunting during the hours of darkness is prohibited.

Be aware that there may be other people in your block who also have right of access to public land. This could include trampers, anglers, farmers, DOC field staff, possum hunters and many others.

Aerial operators and venison recovery

WARO

There may be helicopter operators doing venison recovery during certain dates of the roar period. They are not permitted to do this during the roar period 22 March to 9 April and/or the Easter period if it falls outside of these dates. If you have any concerns about this activity, note as much detail as possible, eg make, model, colour, registration, location, photos, date and time, and report to DOC. 

AATH

Aerial assisted trophy hunting by some approved helicopter operators is permitted in some blocks during part of the ballot period. AATH excludes activity between 22 March and 21 April inclusive. If you have concerns about this activity – as above note as much detail as possible, and report to DOC. 

More about AATH.

Contact

For any other information about hunting in the Haast area during the roar period, email haasthuntingballot@doc.govt.nz

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