Auckland Waikato Fish & Game

08/10/2026

Reminder: Lower Waikato Fishing Comp is on now and this weekend!

Check out the Lower Waikato River Trout Fishing competition 8-11 October 2026. A great opportunity to get involved and have a crack at some of the monster brown trout in the lower river downstream of Karapiro Dam to the Waikato Heads.

28/09/2026

In preparation for the Lower Waikato Trout Fishing Contest (8th - 11th October 2026, details below), we've teamed up with the guys at .

They have shared some of their local knowledge and helped us add 6 new access points and fishing hotspots around the lower Waikato River on the Fishing Access Map, including;
• Horotiu Bridge
• Tainui Bridge
• Huntly Power Station
• Waahi Stream and its mouth
• Huntly Cemetery
• Churchill East Road

These points give anglers a taste of key areas to target trout in this fishery and offer useful tips on what to do once you get there!

Fishing Access Map:
https://fishandgameaccessmap.org/ #10.81/-37.61215/175.18275

For more information about the Lower Waikato Trout Fishing Contest:
https://crossrhodesband.com/waikato-river-trout-contest

23/09/2026

Two-year-old rainbow trout have just been released into Quarry Lake, near Lake Pupuke, on Auckland's North Shore in time for the September school holidays.

Kids under 12 can get a free licence online, and catch rates are usually pretty good!

Access and regulation information for Quarry Lake is available on our Fishing Access Map: https://fishandgameaccessmap.org/ #16.81/-36.78266/174.75954

09/09/2026

Check out the Lower Waikato River Trout Fishing competition 8-11 October 2026. A great opportunity to get involved and have a crack at some of the monster brown trout in the lower river downstream of Karapiro Dam to the Waikato Heads.

23/08/2026

It’s the final week of the pheasant and pūkeko season in the Auckland/Waikato region.

There are still plenty of birds around, so what better time to get out for one last hunt?

Try getting in touch with a local farmer or landowner and politely asking whether they might be willing to offer access. You never know until you ask!

27/07/2026

A mending pair of rainbow trout taking it easy after spawning

23/07/2026

In the last couple of years, we have increased our ranging efforts. The more you look, the more you naturally find, and to accommodate this, we have upskilled staff, allowing us to bring a significant proportion of the prosecution costs in-house.

Below is a summary of the 2025 offences for the Auckland/Waikato region.

22/07/2026

New easements and esplanade strips, which provide access to the Whakapapa River from Stone Jug Road in perpetuity, are now live on the Outdoor Access Map (WAMS):
https://maps.herengaanuku.govt.nz/Viewer/?map=202d9deb4dfa4c82a13536e12c58d8fa¢er=1808163.7723,5686423.3976,2193&level=15

Thanks ā Nuku Aotearoa Outdoor Access Commission for your support on this project!

Find more details on the Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game Angler Access Fund here:
https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/freshwater-fishing-in-new-zealand/where-to-fish/regional-info/aucklandwaikato/aucklandwaikato-angler-access-fund/