New Zealand Fishing Licences

Fish & Game licence

Whether fishing independently or with a guide, you must have a licence to fish for trout, salmon and coarse fish in New Zealand and carry it with you when fishing.

A Fish & Game licence covers all of New Zealand except the Taupo fishery area (and an additional back-country licence is required for a few specified rivers).

A licence permits you to fish according to the current regulations for the region. The regional regulations define where, when and how you can fish specific waters. They also specify the maximum number of fish you can take and the mininum size of fish. For details, see the sportsfishing regulations.

Types of licence

• A Fish & Game sportsfishing licence covers all of New Zealand except the Taupo fishery area  (an additional back-country licence is required for a few specified rivers).
• A licence issued by the Department of Conservation (DOC) is required to fish the lakes and rivers in the Taupo area.
• A Clean Gear Certificate is a required for most Fiordland lakes and rivers as a didymo prevention measure. See the Southland regulations for details,
• Fishing guides who take clients into an area managed by DOC must have a concession for the conservancy or else be covered by the NZPFGA bulk concession, and helicopter operators who land in an area managed by DOC must have a DOC concession to do so.

A full year licence is valid for one year from 1 October until the end of September the following year.

This licence is available to all whole season and family licence holders. It can be obtained from licence agencies or the Fish & Game office at no extra cost. For more details, see the Fish & Game website.

Fishing licence fees: 2009-2010 season

Adults (18+ years):
Whole season $105; winter $63; 24 hour $21

Junior (12-17 years):
Whole season $21; winter $13;, 24 hour $4

Child (under 12 years on 1/10/09)

All licences are free

Family (2 adults and up to 5 children and/or juniors):
Whole season: $137

Where to buy a Fish & Game licence

You can buy a Fish & Game licence:

• Online at Fish & Game online licencing
• From most fishing and sports shops and some service stations, bookshops and general stores.
• At any local Fish & Game office

Online licenses

To buy or renew an licence online you will need:

- your existing licence

- your credit card.

Then go to Fish & Game online licencing

Your licence will be posted to you anywhere in New Zealand but you can print the details and use it straight away (provided the season has started).

Back-country licences 2009-2010

Because of high use, a back country licence, at no extra cost, is also required for some rivers.

Otago region:

• Caples River
• Greenstone River (for which a controlled fishery licence is also required)
• Dingle Burn catchment
• Upper Lochy River catchment
• Nevis River

Wellington region:

• Rangitikei River in the upper reaches above the Ohinewaione Stream Confluence

See Back Country Licences for further details.

Taupo fishing licences

The Taupo fishery area is managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) and a special licence is required to fish in the Taupo region. A map showing the boundaries of the Taupo fishing region is displayed on the DOC website.

A full year licence is valid from 1 July and expires at the end of June.

Types of licence

You can choose to purchase an adult or a child licence that allows you to fish Taupo for either 24 hours, one week or a full year (subject to the regulations). A full year licence is valid from 1 July and expires at the end of June. The cost of all Taupo licences is available at the Department of Conservation website.

Where to obtain a Taupo licence

Taupo fishing licences can be obtained from licence agents in many North Island New Zealand towns and cities. A full list of Taupo licence agents is available at the Department of Conservation website.

• Fishing guides who take clients into an area managed by DOC must have a concession for the conservancy or else be covered by the NZPFGA bulk concession.
• Helicopter operators who land in an area managed by DOC must have a DOC concession to do so.

Holding a DOC concession is the responsibility of the guide or operator; they alone risk prosecution if operating a commerical activity without one. Read more about concessions at the DOC website. DOC also provides a map of conservation land.