Mt Thomas was my seccond home for reds while living in chch, also got a fallow spot 80km out of chch on doc land 

hunted Canterbury for years mate,

Arthers is a neat spot but you have to go well back to really get onto anything, however in saying that have seen deer on the side of the road at night,

The Cass block is another good spot, specially for Chamios, have shot a few up there, the Avoca block which incidently boarders the Cass is a top spot, mainly for Deer although when on the tops there are Chamios there as well.

The Lewis pass is an awesome area, stay at the deer stalkers lodge if its still there cheap as and then get up on the tops deer and Chamios and there are lots of slips and clearings high up to glass.

the Ahura is an awesome spot if your into bush bashing lots and I mean lots of deer here, once shot a hind and her calf with one shot bloody classic. there is huts in here as well

if you can get over to the west coast Fox Glacier was our base camp and we hunted all the side creeks, places like the Waikukapa for everything and this is open river flats, but yeah all those side creeks hold numerous Chamios and a fair few reds. hope that helps, but a good piece of advice is join the deer stalkers and pick their brains.

pretty sure the uni has a hunting club too. They would be a good start to get some spots and someone to share the gas bill with