Pirongia Forest Park hunting

Moderate pig numbers, low numbers of goats, isolated pockets of escapee and released red and fallow deer within and adjacent to Pirongia Forest Park. No goats or pigs known to be present within the Karioi Block.

General information

Pirongia Forest Park is best known for its most widely recognised landmark, Mt Pirongia (959 m). The Park consists of four separate blocks of land, including Mt Karioi, close to Raglan. The total area of Pirongia Forest Park is 16860 ha.

Access

Pirongia Forest Park is near Hamilton city and has many access points. Some access ways cross private land. Keep to marked tracks and use stiles and fences.

Landholders

Access to the Mangakino Block requires permission from adjacent land owners.

Topo maps

NZ Topo BD31, BD32, BE32, BE33. NZTM Pirongia E1780655 N5795880 and Karioi E1758241 N5808223

Dogs

A standard open hunting permit for the Pirongia Forest Park and surrounds hunting area allows a hunter to take up to two dogs, or party of hunters a maximum of three dogs, into Pirongia Forest Park (excluding Karioi Block). 

Hunters may apply to the Department of Conservation for approval to take dogs into other reserves where consent for access to reserves has been obtained in consultation with the neighbouring landowners.

No dogs are allowed across farmland from 1 August to 30 September each year to lower the risk of stock disturbance during the calving/lambing season. Farmland access points include Waite Road, O’Shea Road. 

Dogs must be kept on a lead while using public walking and farm access ways.

Huts

Pahautea Hut is close to the summit of Mt Pirongia and is the only hut in the park. It sleeps 6-8 people on two platform bunks. The hut has mattresses and a water supply but does not have a fire or cooking facilities, so you should take a portable cooker. There are also campsites and a camping shelter at the hut. Fires are not permitted.