Taranaki Game Bird Season 2026: Dates & Bag Limits

Game bird seasons are set for each Fish & Game region in the Gazette. Dates, daily bags and shooting hours for the Taranaki region below, last checked 2026-10-12.

What's open now

Nothing in the table below is open in the Taranaki region today. Opening soon: Paradise shelduck.

Status is worked out from the agency dates each day. Always confirm on the official agency page before you hunt.

Taranaki game bird season dates

SpeciesRegionDatesBagStatusHoursSource
Paradise shelduck

Special days in Area C only: 20–21 and 27–28 February and 6–8 March 2027. Area C is the coastal west of the region between the Mokau and Waitotara river mouths; Areas A and B are inland. See the notice for the boundaries.

Taranaki (Area C)Listed days only10Opens soon6.30am to 6.15pm.Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12)
Black swanTaranaki2 May – 28 Jun 20262Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am to 6.15pm.Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12)
Bobwhite quailTaranaki2 May – 30 Aug 20265Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am to 6.15pm.Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12)
California quailTaranaki2 May – 30 Aug 20265Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am to 6.15pm.Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12)
Cock pheasantTaranaki2 May – 30 Aug 20262Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am 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 duckTaranaki2 May – 28 Jun 202610Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am 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 duckTaranaki2 May – 28 Jun 20262Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am to 6.15pm.Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12)
Paradise shelduckTaranaki2 May – 28 Jun 202610Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am to 6.15pm.Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12)
Pūkeko

Area C is the coastal west of the region between the Mokau and Waitotara river mouths; Areas A and B are inland. See the notice for the boundaries.

Taranaki (Areas A, B)2 May – 30 Aug 20265Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am to 6.15pm.Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12)
Pūkeko

Area C is the coastal west of the region between the Mokau and Waitotara river mouths; Areas A and B are inland. See the notice for the boundaries.

Taranaki (Area C)2 May – 30 Aug 202610Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am to 6.15pm.Source: New Zealand Gazette, Open Season for Game in Fish and Game Regions 2026 (2026-sl764) (checked 2026-10-12)
Red-legged partridgeTaranaki2 May – 30 Aug 20262Last season (2026)

Next season not announced yet

6.30am 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.

Department of Conservation →

Take New Zealand season dates into the field

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, Eastern, Hawke's Bay, Nelson / Marlborough, North Canterbury, Northland, Otago, Southland, Wellington, West Coast.