Raukumara Conservation Park hunting

General information

The Raukumara Conservation Park is one of the least developed or visited tracts of bush in the North Island with the steep and unforgiving topography of the Raukumara Range a feature.

The park covers 115,000 hectares of extremely remote, bush-clad land and includes the 40,000 ha wilderness area.   

The area includes all forest types from semi-coastal to alpine forests. Whio, kaka, brown kiwi, short and long tail bats and hochstetter frogs can be found within the park. The area contains a number of historic places and has a high cultural significance.

Hunting opportunities within the park are both varied and significant with red deer and pigs in good numbers and feral cattle present but patchy in distribution. The Raukumara Conservation Park is one of the few areas in the North Island where hunters can target trophy red deer on public conservation land.

Hunters should be experienced, fit and capable in the outdoors and be prepared for sudden weather changes, cloud whiteouts, high winds and snow on the ranges torrential rain and rapidly rising water levels in rivers and streams. 

There are no marked tracks within the park, although there is the East-West traverse that is a route and is not marked or benched. Travel within the park is predominately via the river systems. There are three backcountry huts (basic or standard) throughout the park.

The Raukumara Conservation Park offers the keen hunter a real wilderness experience of New Zealand's remote backcountry.

Hunting permits are available online or can be obtained from the local DOC Office.

Access

The Otipi road via the Takaputahi is the only access to and into the Raukumara Conservation Park that does not require permission to cross private property. Access is normally by helicopter due to the remoteness and size of the area and the lack of suitable road access points.

Maps

NZ Topo50 Houpoto BE42, Huiarua BE 43, Te Puia Springs BE44, Potaka BD 44, Matawai BF 42.

Huts

• Oronui Hut
• Mangaotane Hut
• Mangakirikiri Hut

Know bfore you go

Dogs

To take dogs into this area get authorisation from the Gisborne DOC Office. To take dogs across private property you must get permission from the landowner.