Code & Conduct

Please consider the rights of others and observe the anglers’ code of conduct.

Access and private property

Always ask permission from the land occupier before crossing private property unless a Fish & Game access sign is present.
Do not park vehicles so that they obstruct gateways or cause a hazard on the road or access way.
Always use gates, stiles or other recognised access points and avoid damage to fences.
Leave everything as you found it. If a gate is open or closed leave it that way.
A farm is the owner’s livelihood and if they say no dogs, then please respect this.
When driving on riverbeds keep to marked tracks or park on the bank and walk to your fishing spot.

Never push in on a pool occupied by another angler. If you are in any doubt have a chat and work out who goes where.
However, if agreed to share the pool then always enter behind any angler already there.
Move upstream or downstream with every few casts (unless you are alone).

Fish being returned to the water should be released as carefully and quickly as possible. Ideally leave the fish in the water and remove the hook with long-nosed pliers without handling the fish.
While catch and release fishing is widely promoted by some as a conservation minded approach to angling it remains the angler’s choice. However, the catching of large numbers of fish in a day can impact on individual fish and also on the angling experience for others. Fish & Game advocate hooking and landing a limited number of fish per day.
Fish being retained should be killed as quickly as possible, ideally by spiking or stabbing the brain slightly behind and above the eye (also known as iki jime – pronounced “iki jimi”).

Always respect the environment, wildlife, other anglers and members of the public.
Remove waste nylon and personal litter from the river banks and parking places.
The only way we can protect our rivers in the long term is to CHECK, CLEAN and DRY all your gear before entering another river or lake anywhere in New Zealand.

Remember to treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself