Wānaka roar block system

DOC's Tititea/Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre in Wānaka runs an annual ballot system for hunters wishing to hunt during the roar period.

The ballot ensures hunters have access to an area with the knowledge that only one hunting party will be present in each of the blocks for a seven day period.

Dates

In 2025 the roar system will run from Sunday 16 March to Saturday 12 April with the available periods being:

• Period 1 Sunday 16 March to Saturday 22 March 2025
• Period 2 Sunday 23 March to Saturday 29 March 2025
• Period 3 Sunday 30 March to Saturday 5 April 2025
• Period 4 Sunday 6 April to Saturday 12 April 2025

2025 roar application will be posted on website by Tuesday 1 October 2024.

Blocks

There are 50 blocks available for allocation each roar. These are limited to one party per block for each seven-day period.

• Wānaka roar hunting block overview map 1 (PDF, 575K)
• Wānaka roar hunting block overview map 2 (PDF, 620K)

Block permits

Blocks are allocated through a ballot draw and are allocated for a seven-day period (Sunday to the following Saturday) as listed above.

Applications closed at midnight Friday 1 November 2024.

Ballot draw

The ballot draw will be held on Monday 11 November 2024 at the Tititea/Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre, Wānaka. 

Applicants will be advised by email of the outcome of the draw by Friday 15 November 2024.

Confirmation of bookings

Applicants must confirm their block by return email before 5 pm Friday 29 November 2024.

If confirmation has not been received by the set date, the booking will be cancelled and the block reallocated – no reminders will be issued.

Reallocating blocks

Applicants who entered the draw but were unsuccessful will have first choice of any remaining blocks. These will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis by lining up in person at our Wanaka office after 8:30 am on Thursday 5 December 2024. Applicants will be issued with an application number that must be quoted when applying for a block.

In January 2025 any remaining blocks will be made available to all hunters who did not enter the draw and a week later to hunters who have existing bookings and want a second block or want to extend their existing booking may also apply for any remaining unallocated blocks.

Permit issue

Permits will be emailed out to successful applicants by the end of January 2025.

Administration fee

At this stage no administration fee will be charged for blocks, although this fee may be introduced in future ballots to cover the costs associated with administering the roar block system.

General information

Helicopter operators are not permitted to undertake venison recovery during the roar period: 25 March to 15 April. If any helicopter is observed recovering venison during that period, note as much detail as possible, e.g. make, colour, registration, and pass to DOC so an investigation may be carried out.

To encourage full use of the hunting blocks, any applicants who do not comply with the requirements of the Wānaka Roar Ballot or hunting permit system will be disqualified from following ballot draw(s). This may include hunters who submit multiple applications or who do not cancel their permits. The success of the system depends on the honesty of those involved.

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.

Identify your target before shooting.

Contact

For any other information about hunting in the Wānaka area during the roar period, contact: