Game bird seasons are set for each Fish & Game region in the Gazette. Dates, daily bags and shooting hours for the Eastern region below, last checked 2026-10-12.
Nothing in the table below is open in the Eastern region today. Opening soon: Black swan, Pūkeko.
Status is worked out from the agency dates each day. Always confirm on the official agency page before you hunt.
| Species | Region | Dates | Bag | Status | Hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black swan Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (Area A1) | 27 Mar – 4 Apr 2027 | No limit | Opens soon | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Pūkeko | Eastern | 27 Mar – 4 Apr 2027 | 10 | Opens soon | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Black swan Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (Area A1) | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | No limit | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Black swan Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (Area A2) | 2 May – 28 Jun 2026 | 5 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Black swan Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (Areas B1, B2) | Closed for 2026/27 | 0 | Last season (2027) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Bobwhite quail | Eastern | Closed for 2026/27 | 0 | Last season (2027) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Brown quail | Eastern | Closed for 2026/27 | 0 | Last season (2027) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| California quail Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (Areas A1, A2) | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | No limit | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| California quail Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (Areas B1, B2) | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 5 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Cock pheasant | Eastern | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 5 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Grey/mallard duck | Eastern | 2 May – 1 Jun 2026 | 6 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| NZ shoveler duck | Eastern | 2 May – 1 Jun 2026 | 2 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (Areas A1, A2) | 2 May – 28 Jun 2026 | 6 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck Area B2, and that part of B1 south of the true right bank of the Uawa River mouth, Tolaga Bay. Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (Area B2, B1 south of Uawa River) | 2 May – 28 Jun 2026 | 10 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Paradise shelduck That part of B1 north of the true right bank of the Uawa River mouth, Tolaga Bay. Areas: A1 Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty, South Waikato east of SH1, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. A2 South Waikato west of SH1, Taupo and Ruapehu districts (within the region). B1 Gisborne District. B2 Wairoa District (within the region). | Eastern (B1 north of Uawa River) | 2 May – 12 Jul 2026 | 20 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
| Pūkeko | Eastern | 2 May – 30 Aug 2026 | 10 | Last season (2026) Next season not announced yet | 6.15am to 6.15pm. | Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12) |
Public conservation land
Always confirm dates and rules with Department of Conservation before you hunt.
See hunting areas, public land boundaries and season dates for New Zealand on an offline map in the HuntScout app.
Back to New Zealand hunting seasons. Other regions: Auckland / Waikato, Central South Island, Hawke's Bay, Nelson / Marlborough, North Canterbury, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Wellington, West Coast.