Mt Messenger Conservation Area hunting

Located in Taranaki forests hunting in the Taranaki region

Possums, goats and pigs are hunted at Mt Messenger Conservation Area.

About this hunting block

Mt Messenger Conservation Area has an extensive and well managed trap network run by the Mt Messenger Alliance and Ngāti Tama.

Before you head into the area, you need to do the following:

• Contact the New Plymouth DOC office with details of your planned hunt. We will pass on your plans to the conservation workers as a health and safety precaution.
• Contact the Mt Messenger Alliance and Ngāti Tama by emailing conrad.ocarroll@mtma.co.nz 24 hours before you head off into the bush. This is to advise potential predator control workers of your presence.

Goats, possums and pigs are present in this reserve.

General information

The rugged Mt Messenger Conservation Area is steep with many bluffs. 

The forest canopy is mostly tawa, hīnau and rewarewa with areas of hard beech and a scrub tier of predominantly māhoe, treeferns, nīkau and kiekie. 

New Zealand falcon and kiwi are present in the area as well as the pāua slug (Schizoglossa) and scrub beetle (Odontria veluntina).

Access

The small carpark on SH3 near the track entrance is closed due to ongoing roadworks on Mount Messenger. Access is from Kiwi Road, Mangaongaonga Road, or via private land (landowner permission required).

Landholders

Permission to access Mt Messenger Conservation Area via private land must be gained by arrangements with adjoining landholders. Access may be restricted at the owners discretion during lambing between 1 August and 31 October.

Maps

NZTopo50 BH31

Huts

There are no DOC huts in this reserve.

Dogs

Dogs are prohibited except where authorisation has been granted by DOC. People wishing to take a dog into this area need to get a permit from the local DOC office and have a current kiwi aversion certificate.

Avian awareness and avoidance training

To take dogs across private property, or tracks crossing farmland, you must get permission from the landowner.