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New Zealand's crazy fishing rules

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=137491
Printed Date: 26 Jan 2026 at 12:11am


Topic: New Zealand's crazy fishing rules
Posted By: 064pointbreak
Subject: New Zealand's crazy fishing rules
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2023 at 6:58pm
With the government reviewing the Wildlife Act 1953, I got to think about our wild fish. The rules are pretty crazy.

  • 39 native freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction. It’s legal to kill them all without a license.

  • It’s legal to kill and sell endangered whitebait. Everywhere else in the world it’s illegal to trade in endangered species. Only one of our native freshwater fish* is protected, but it went extinct last century.
  • *Upokororo (New Zealand Grayling) 

  • We have billions of introduced pest fish that damage and destroy native ecosystems. It’s illegal to kill or sell them without a license. 

  • You don’t need a license to kill any of our native saltwater fish. Including those going locally or nationally extinct.

I definitely think its time for a review.


Replies:
Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2023 at 7:28pm
Agree with everything you say, but introduced fish does not necessarily equal pest. Whether you like it or not, they have value in all senses and have legal status as game fish.

Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2023 at 7:52pm
but go and kill carp,as many as you like.

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"Times up"

Posted By: lawabidingpoacher
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2023 at 7:56pm
Let's just hope these "reviews" are actually productive , as they will probably cost us several hundred thousand if not into the millions .Not holding my breath though ....no one in the current parliament or any other department are known for there brain power.

Posted By: Reel Deal
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2023 at 7:56pm
Tairua had its best whitebait season in in 75 years a couple years back. Pollution mainly from farm run off is the major issue also the mix of weather changes and pests. Eg slug snails mice eating eggs. 

Whitebait run up rivers months before and after season.  Can only be caught during daylight hours so only half of run can be targeted. And with the spacing and manning rules limits catch, most caught over weekends and when weather allows and some rivers can be weeks before conditions suit.

Agree commercial catching and selling by amateurs is wrong. But it ain’t the average bloke trying and only getting a cup if that on average. I’ve had kilo catches and many without a white bait. 

We have native species like Kawahai with no size limit etc. and their reduction is again commercial caused.

Strong consequences for polluting and ruining the water quality and strong policing will make the biggest difference.   


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The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men's lives the hours spent on fishing - Assyrian Proverb

Posted By: 064pointbreak
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2026 at 12:39am
Originally posted by Reel Deal Reel Deal wrote:

Tairua had its best whitebait season in in 75 years a couple years back. Pollution mainly from farm run off is the major issue also the mix of weather changes and pests. Eg slug snails mice eating eggs. 

Whitebait run up rivers months before and after season.  Can only be caught during daylight hours so only half of run can be targeted. And with the spacing and manning rules limits catch, most caught over weekends and when weather allows and some rivers can be weeks before conditions suit.

Agree commercial catching and selling by amateurs is wrong. But it ain’t the average bloke trying and only getting a cup if that on average. I’ve had kilo catches and many without a white bait. 

We have native species like Kawahai with no size limit etc. and their reduction is again commercial caused.

Strong consequences for polluting and ruining the water quality and strong policing will make the biggest difference.   

I agree with you.
I don't take kahawai, flounder, or other fish that are under a foot long, not only because they don't have enough meat, but to preserve the population. Everything's going down in flames...


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