New Zealand's Named Rivers

In 2023 the New Zealand Fish and Game Council, who oversee New Zealand’s trout licence system, introduced a new additional tier to the Whole Season Fishing Licence called a Designated Waters Licence (DWL).

The DWL replaced the previously implemented Backcountry endorsement to your Whole Season Licence – allowing angling access to some ‘named’ backcountry streams.

For the 2024/25 season, we review recent changes to the Designated Waters scheme, now deployed in twenty three rivers across six of New Zealand’s twelve Fish & Game regions and in its second year. We explain how DWL licence fees are charged for Resident and Non-Resident anglers (hint: they're different for each group), and provide some tips and additional information on each of the named waters within the DWL scheme.

The purpose of this article is to strongly recommend that visiting anglers look beyond these designated water fisheries and we explain why.

Designated waters only account for 2% of the fishing rivers and lakes available to anglers in New Zealand. The 23 rivers and their tributaries have been designated by NZ Fish & Game due to the high angler pressure that these streams have faced over the past decade. However an enterprising angler will find a close-by river with even better prospects and less chance of meeting another angler upstream.

Image: © Southflyfisher. The Designated Water Licence is designed to protect New Zealand’s most fragile and pressure-sensitive fisheries.

Background to the DWL

Over the previous ten years before the introduction of the DWL, Fish & Game had fielded angler complaints about overcrowding or unsustainable pressure on a small number of fragile, pressure-sensitive fisheries.

The general consensus was that this pressure was detrimentally affecting both New Zealand’s wilderness angling experience and wild trout behaviour.

NZ Fish & Game characterised these pressure-sensitive fisheries as sharing some common features:

• Almost exclusively rivers

• Clear water

• Excellent sight fishing

• Large average size of fish

• High scenic value

• Often in a wilderness or backcountry setting

• Largely located in the South Island

• High levels of non-resident angler use

(Source: NZ Fish & Game)

Whilst overcrowding on these waters affects all anglers, they determined that resident anglers were being displaced from these fisheries more than non-resident anglers and in some cases surveys showed an 80/20 usage favouring non-resident anglers.

The Designated Waters Licence (with different rules for resident and non-resident anglers) was introduced to try to restore this equity and reduce overcrowding on the most disaffected rivers by limiting fishing days for non-resident anglers and implementing a financial incentive to fish elsewhere for all anglers.

NZ Fish & Game states that “in total these waters comprise fewer than 2% of available fisheries...”. In 2023/24 and again in 2024/25, the Designated Waters Licence (including Controlled Fisheries Licence) covers 23 rivers and their tributaries within six of the twelve New Zealand Fish & Game regions. Only one North Island region has a designated river system alongside 22 rivers within five South Island regions, and particularly in the Central Otago region.

Most recently, there has been political input into the Designated Waters system with New Zealand’s Minister of Hunting & Fishing (yes, we have one) stopping any additional DWL waters being designated for the coming 2024/25 season and blocking any fee increases, at least until a review of the entire system is undertaken. So expect further changes in the 2025/26 season once further research into the efficacy of the DWL is debated. This may include a price increase and an increased number of fisheries covered within the scheme.

Image: There are plenty of other rivers to fish in New Zealand’s South Island beyond the 23 rivers named by Fish & Game NZ in their list of Designated Waters.

The DWL Fisheries

All regions and their fisheries covered under the Designated Waters Licence regulations are all listed on the New Zealand Fish & Game website with maps and regulations spelt out. Naming these fisheries here does not constitute ‘hot-spotting’ as they’re already well documented by NZ Fish & Game.

For the 2024/25 season, the current Designated Waters Fisheries have been confirmed as the following rivers and their tributaries, as per 2023/24.

Wellington Region

• Upper Rangitikei River

Nelson/Marlborough Region

• Travers River

• Upper Wairau River (beat system in place)

• Upper Matakitaki River

North Canterbury Region

• Hurunui River South Branch (Controlled Fishery)

• Hurunui River North Branch (Controlled Fishery)

• Hope River (to be renamed Lewis Pass)

• Upper Waiau (Uwha) River

West Coast Region

• Karamea River

• Mokihinui River

Otago Region

• Greenstone River (Controlled Fishery)

• Caples River

• Dingle Burn

• Upper Lochy River

• Nevis River (beat system in place)

• Hunter River

• Young River

• Wilkin River

• Upper Pomahaka River

Southland region

• Ettrick Burn (Controlled Fishery)

• Upper Oreti River (beat system in place)

• Clinton River (Controlled Fishery)

• Worsley River (Controlled Fishery)

Maps and details on each fishery can be found on the NZ Fish & Game website.

Image Credit: Source NZ Fish & Game website. Designated Waters marked in blue (as at August 2024). Missing from map are Caples, Clinton, Worsley and Ettrick Burn.

Designated Water Licence - The Detail

The DWL has different conditions for Resident anglers and Non-Resident anglers.

Resident Anglers

As a kiwi angler, if you want to fish ‘Designated Waters’ in your region or in any other region, the same ‘per-region’ fee of NZ$5 is payable as for last season. There are six regions with Designated Waters as outlined above, so a maximum total of NZ$30 would be charged on top of your Whole Season Licence fee to fish every DWL waterway in the country.

Remember that a separate licence is required for Taupo which is controlled separately by the government’s Department of Conservation (DoC).

Paying the $5 DWL charge for one of the participating regions means you can fish the ‘Designated Waters’ of that region at any time in the current season, so long as you adhere to the other normal NZ Fish & Game Regulations, particularly the controlled fishery rules. This differs for those fishing on a Non-Resident Whole Season Fishing Licence.

Non-Resident Anglers

If you’re a non-resident – an angler not normally residing in New Zealand, rather travelling and fishing here – a different set of rules applies. You’ll first need to buy a Non-Resident Whole Season Fishing Licence, then purchase a Designated Waters Day Licence for the calendar day you want to fish and the region you want to fish in. The cost of the Designated Waters Day Licence is $40 per day.

A non-resident angler can only buy a maximum of five Designated Waters Day Licences for each Fish & Game region that offers Designated Waters. That’s five days for EACH region.

This five days per region cap is unlikely to restrict access to most overseas anglers travelling to New Zealand who might only choose to fish one designated water in a region and only for a day or two, but stops some non-residents from camping out in a wilderness hut and fishing daily for weeks on end. There is a myriad of non-designated water to explore.

Other Fishery Protections

The point of implementing these changes is to protect some very special New Zealand fishing locations. Nationally, there are many other wilderness rivers, many that are also pressure-sensitive fisheries, that do not have the protection prescribed through the Designated Waters moniker.

Whilst naming these waters will reduce long-stay pressure by non-resident anglers, the very act of being named may increase visitor pressure due to the generous five day cap. NZ Fish & Game acknowledges that this will affect very few non-resident anglers. For resident anglers, the relatively low surcharge for this endorsement to the full season licence does little to reduce local angler overcrowding.

NZ Fish & Game have implemented other measures than can be expanding on to continue reducing angler pressure as required.

These include:

Voluntary Beats

These signposted designations have space for parking your vehicle and fishing up to the next beat. The beats allow latecomers to see if there is an angler on the river section, and if so, to move to another beat, thus reducing angler contact.

Voluntary beats operate on some Designated Waters such as the Upper Wairau and Upper Oreti rivers, as well as on some non-DWL classified water, such as the magic Mataura river.

Two rivers that narrowly avoided being added to the Designated Waters Licence for 2024/2025 are the Waikaia and Upper Mataura rivers. Voluntary beats are now operating for both river systems and can be found at these links: Upper Mataura River and Waikaia River beats.

Controlled Fisheries

A Controlled Fishery Licence allows anglers who hold a DWL to book or enter a ballot for certain river beats during a specified period.

The Greenstone river operates a Controlled Fishery during February and March each year. The Clinton and Worsley rivers and Ettrick Burn operate a ballot system throughout the season.

In addition, no guiding is allowed on the Worsley river as it’s located in the Glaisnock Wilderness Area. New Zealand has a number of remote Wilderness Areas that don’t allow any commercial activity such as guiding within their boundaries.

Update: The Hurunui River will operate a beat system on its Controlled Fishery on its North and South Branches, with parties of four being able to book beats for three periods, similar to the existing system operation on the Greenstone River:

Period 1: Monday - Tuesday,
Period 2: Wednesday - Thursday, and
Period 3: Friday - Sunday.

Outside of the Designated Waters, the Ohau River operates a Controlled Fishery opening for a balloted early spring season in September and October each year, before its open season in November commences.

Controlled Fishery Licence Limits

What is not widely reported with respect to the Controlled Fishery licences is that there is a finite number of controlled period licences for each fishery.

The Sports Fish Licences, Fees, and Forms Notice 2024 regulations (clause 15.2) states:

“However, the Fish and Game Councils must not issue more than—

(a) 184 controlled-period licences for the Clinton River controlled fishery:

(b) 70 controlled-period licences for the Ettrick Burn controlled fishery:

(c) 180 controlled-period licences for the Greenstone River controlled fishery:

(d) 90 controlled-period licences for the Hurunui River North Branch controlled fishery:

(e) 90 controlled-period licences for the Hurunui River South Branch controlled fishery:

(f) 254 controlled-period licences for the Ōhau River controlled fishery:

(g) 92 controlled-period licences for the Worsley River controlled fishery.”

This clearly caps the number of anglers who can assess these highly pressure-sensitive rivers in a single season and is a useful management tool.

Note: I’m not offering a view on whether these controlled period licence quantities are reasonable or unreasonable as I don’t have past overseas angler data for this river to hand.

Clause 15.3 states that: “The available controlled-period licences for the following controlled fisheries must be allocated according to the order in which applications are received:

(a) the Ettrick Burn controlled fishery:

(b) the Greenstone River controlled fishery:

(c) the Hurunui River North Branch controlled fishery:

(d) the Hurunui River South Branch controlled fishery.”

Therefore, if you’re a non-resident anglers making plans to fish one of these four waterways during their Controlled Period, you would be wise to get in early.

Image © Southflyfisher. New Zealand’s Designated Water Licence provides additional protection of our most fragile wilderness fisheries for the next generation of kiwi anglers.

The Fisheries

Each of the named fisheries has special wilderness and scenic qualities. These rivers have been popular amongst local fly fishers in the past decades and were revered destinations by many longtime anglers.

In some cases, the fisheries have experienced significant decline hence their inclusion in the Designated Waters scheme. Overfishing, opening up of easier walking or cycling access, increased guiding activity and more frequent helicopter visits have all accounted for greater angler traffic and harder fishing than in the past.

Here are some notes on each of the twenty-three Designated Water Fisheries to help you plan your next wilderness fishing adventure in New Zealand.

Upper Rangitikei River

When I first fished the upper Rangitikei in 1988, Jack MacKenzie from Rangitikei Anglers was the known guide on the river. As typical enterprising young kiwis, we were able to easily access the very top reaches, rafting down over multiple days, over the next few years. It was quite spectacular fishing and camping - one of the very best rivers in New Zealand at that time.

Thirty years on, it’s now very difficult to get into the Ecology creek section at the top of the river due to NZ Defence Force limiting access through their land as well as a helicopter exclusion zone. Visiting anglers are generally focusing on sections accessible by road. There are better rivers nearby, and water further downstream has excellent fishing. An exploring angler should consult their maps and be prepared to walk to experience some magical fishing on other central North Island rivers in the same vicinity.

Travers River

My first experience of the upper Travers was in 1984 and again in 1986. There is easy boat access to quality Department of Conservation huts at the river’s outlet into Lake Rotoiti and this means heavy angler pressure. Make sure to pack a waterproof tent if expecting to stay overnight as the huts are frequently full with walkers.

There was reportedly 25 anglers on the river for the 2023 opening weekend. For such a small river, this is out of control and suggests a ballot system might be required here also.

It is also frequently guided – in all weather, it seems. Just last season, my US companion and I watched from the hut jetty on a miserable wet day as a local guide accompanying two elderly overseas anglers gingerly disembarked the water taxi and the group made their way up alongside a raging brown torrent. The river had coloured up quickly the previous afternoon and risen significantly overnight rendering it unfishable in all but a few backwaters.

The Nelson/Marlborough Fish & Game region has many amazing rivers that are similarly easy to access but enjoy much less pressure. Naming this wilderness stream as a Backcountry river does not appear to have reduced its popularity (one of my concerns with the DWL concept).

Upper Wairau River

A heavily guided river, the upper Wairau now comprises a voluntary beat system to avoid angler conflict and increase the isolated wilderness experience of this high country waterway. Expect to see cars parked at the beat signs, particularly during weekends and at the peak of summer.

If you’re fishing this frequently-fished river, try carefully crossing to the less-walked side of the river, and explore some of the upstream beats as the lower ones are likely to be thrashed at peak times.

Bring a thermometer and stop fishing if the river warms to above 61°F/16°C. I walked a lovely section at the height of summer in 2023 with an Argentinian angling friend. The river was pleasantly wadeable but clearly too warm for the local trout that were lethargic and obviously stressed. We relocated to a cooler Nelson backcountry stream at a higher elevation.

Upper Matakitaki River

Less popular than the Wairau for visiting anglers, the Matakitaki is also heavily guided. The Designated Waters Licence, with its five day limit for non-resident anglers, is unlikely to affect this fishery. Naming it might though and I predict angler numbers increasing due to its inclusion.

If you’re not first up the river (check for cars and four-wheel motorcycle tracks), you are advised to run with your Plan B river, likely to be close by.

Hurunui River South Branch

It’s quite a drive and hike into this river, but that hasn’t stopped the Youtubers from publishing plenty of video on this wilderness water. For non-resident anglers, the five day limit will affect your choice of where to fish in the North Canterbury F&G region. For all anglers, both branches of this river will operate a first-in, first served ballot system for beats, as mentioned earlier in this article. There’s so much great wilderness fishing across the region, and this stream’s popularity means most obvious access points are well-fished early in the season. Low summer flows can mean it's better to fish elsewhere from January onwards.

Hurunui South Branch Update: NZ F&G advises that: "Final format for the 2024/25 season Trial of a CONTROLLED FISHERY BOOKING SYSTEM will be available from 26 September 2024."

Hurunui River North Branch

Another popular North Canterbury location, with plenty of YouTube footage (even inexplicably by a local angler displaying the hut’s signage which seems quite bizarre behaviour). For the 2024/25 season, my advice is to get onto Google Maps and look along the Lewis Pass or in South Canterbury for other regional water. This river gets hammered by certain guides dropping in by helicopter. The ballot system will help to provide greater surety of quiet enjoyment.

The fish here have demonstrated remarkable adaptability, often feeding with disdain despite an angler’s casting efforts, only to fade away into deeper water if the flogging continues.

Hurunui North Branch Update: NZ F&G advises that: "Final format for the 2024/25 season Trial of a CONTROLLED FISHERY BOOKING SYSTEM will be available from 26 September 2024."

Hope River (Lewis Pass)

A tributary of the Waiau, the main river of the Hope River and its tributaries are worthy of exploration by fit and keen anglers. Fishing pressure has ramped up in recent years, and an explosion of hikers moving through its main water catchment has increased pressure on the fish. Expect to see a guide and angler if you’re fishing at peak season.

Upper Waiau (Uwha) River

This river used to be quite incredible, with many 10lb+ fish and some ‘unofficial’ access limitation techniques to keep them safe. My (non-fishing) partner and I once spent a week up here some 12-13 years ago, huddled in a small tent waiting for the inclement weather to clear.

Now, with the advent of the St James Walkway, easier 4x4 vehicle access, cycling groups and an exponential rise of both angling and non-angling traffic, the fishing has dropped away. Fish size is reduced and numbers are down on a decade earlier. Avoid this river, particularly in the obvious locations sporting trampled tracks. If you do want to fish the area, have a look up some of the Waiau tributaries for a better fishing experience.

Karamea River

My first contact with Alpaka inflatable rafts was bumping two anglers (an Aussie doctor and his companion – you know who you are) coming downstream on these incredible boats in one of the great Karamea tributaries in January 2010.

It’s a decent walk into the upper Karamea from any direction, but affluent anglers, guides and helicopters are dropping into the Karamea tributaries with increased frequency. If you’re flying in, make sure to have a Plan B and extra food in case low cloud limits access at either end of the trip. The tributaries and main river can flash flood very, very quickly, as I’ve experienced. Keep your wits about you and pack food and a cooker in your day bag.

Be creative rather than fishing the ‘name’ tributaries. These are getting hammered nowadays, after published articles naming these tributaries appeared in magazines and online. Expect to see huts full and footsteps upstream. However the main river still fishes well and holds good numbers of fish, particularly in the lower reaches.

Mokihinui River

As with the Karamea and much of South Island’s backcountry, the weather is highly changeable so expect rain. This river floods quickly and if you’re on the wrong side, you should expect to be trapped for days.

This river came to prominence with overseas anglers sharing information on access, resulting in some scandinavian angling groups camped up here, dining on trout tacos and enjoying the fishery for many weeks on end. This demonstrates why the Designated Waters Licence needed to be implemented.

Unfortunately, there is now a major cycleway through the river system and much increased visitor numbers so the fishery is unlikely to recover despite the increased protection afforded by its DWL designation. There’s plenty of water to explore throughout the area, so again, my advice is to be creative, talk to your guide or helicopter pilot if you’re using either service, and try to get into a wilderness area that doesn’t get so much pressure.

Greenstone River

The Greenstone is nestled in a quite beautiful valley and worth visiting for its scenic qualities. My recent experience on this river is that fish numbers are down on previous decades. There are often cattle grazing on the riverbanks through the second/third beat sections but the gorge is worthy of exploring by an adventurous angler with a companion watching out for safety.

Be sure to check the regulations for this Controlled Fishery. It operates three beats between Feb 01 and March 31 each year.

Caples River

The Caples, a tributary of the Greenstone, is a fine rainbow trout fishery, particularly late in the season when terrestrials are eagerly taken. Like the Greenstone, there is good DOC hut accommodation, but expect it to be busy with trampers.

There are many good rivers flowing into Lake Wakatipu so don’t limit yourself to these ‘name’ streams. You’ll find excellent fishing in other local rivers.

Dingle Burn

Local anglers lament the limited access to local streams and the Dingle Burn, along with the Hunter River, is often named in this category. Walking access is from the Dingleburn station car park if you get up there, and topographical maps show access into its headwaters from the Ahuriri – but only the keenest of anglers will head in via this route. There are easier waters to fish for visiting anglers with limited time. Don’t forget to fish the river mouths in these Central Otago waters.

Upper Lochy River

The Lochy gets a lot of guide/helicopter pressure given its close proximity to Queenstown. The Designated Water section starts at Disputed Creek, approximately 10kms upstream from the river’s exit into the lake. Farmer access is required to fish the Lochy valley. See Fish & Game maps for details.

Nevis River

Back in the 1980’s my Uncle worked for one of the local Central Otago rabbit boards. His whispered advice to me as a teenager was to get up the Nevis if I wanted to catch a ten pounder. It stayed this way for 30+ years, with even a local Fish and Game ranger sharing one of his best catches from this stream in recent years. But times are changing.

Access is tough for a visiting angler with a long, slippery 4WD track making driving into the fishable sections a challenge. That hasn’t stopped angler pressure increasing over the past ten years to a point where a zero catch and take limit is now enforced. The river’s proclaimed DWL status will do little to reduce angler access, but the decline in fish quality and size, together with an increase in angler numbers will deter repeat visits. But if you have limited days in New Zealand, fishing the Nevis shouldn’t be high up your list. There are plenty of better, more accessible locations to visit first, particularly as the season progresses and the waters warm up.

If you do get there, make sure to follow the voluntary beat system. Maps are on the Fish & Game website.

Hunter River

If you know someone with a boat, the Hunter River mouth into Lake Hawea is worthy of a visit on a still day. Fishing the lake edge towards the mouth is also rewarding and there is limited vehicle access to the lake head, depending on time of year. There are a couple of periods that allow jetboat access up the river. Best to avoid fishing during these times.

Young River

A lovely glacial blue high country stream with difficult access, The Young River is a quality wilderness fishery for anglers who can scale large boulders, wade swift currents and cast with expertise. If there’s another angler already on the water, turn around and head up the Wilkin, or fish the main Makarora River.

Wilkin River

There are daily jetboat trips up this scenic farming valley so don’t be surprised to see other anglers at the Kerin Forks Hut. The rainbows eat and fight well as the season progresses. The sandflies eat well all season, so pack your insect repellant.

Upper Pomahaka River

Phenomenal work by local farmers and conservation-minded locals has turned around this once-glorious fishery from its expected eventual demise. Worthy of a one-day visit, don’t expect to catch many (or large) browns here. The Designated Water section of the Pomahaka starts upstream of the Hukarere Station Bridge on Hukarere Station Road. If you are visiting New Zealand, and don’t want to pay the NZ$40 for a day on this DWL water, there are numerous other small streams with similar quality fish in the northern Southland area.

Ettrick Burn

This Controlled Fishery, comprising the lower seven kilometres of the Ettrick Burn in Fiordland National Park, is difficult to access, requires a prior booking with Southland Fish & Game, and is strictly day only water. No overnight camping is allowed. Please note that this stream has Didymo so double check your gear is clean and disinfected as soon as possible following your departure from this stream and before fishing elsewhere.

As noted earlier, there are only 70 controlled period licences available to anglers on this small remote stream this season, and they are allocated in the order they’re received (first come first served basis) so don’t be surprised if you miss out later in the season.

You are only allowed to fish the river on Wednesdays and Saturdays and cannot book more than five days in advance. This is an excellent management technique, but it baffles me as to why a one fish limit on this river continues. Surely ‘catch & release’ will be practiced by all anglers so can be reinforced with a zero catch limit as per the Nevis.

Upper Oreti River

Popular with Southland guides, this tussock and farmland fishery runs a voluntary beat system (expect to incur the extreme wrath of guides and other anglers if you ignore it).

I (and my fishing companions can witness) have seen vehicles erroneously parked and with posters affixed to the beat signage, to protect a beat in advance of a fishing group planning to fish that section the following day. This is disappointing and will undermine the beat system if it continues. It also discredits by association the vast majority of anglers and guides who regularly enjoy this water while following the protocols.

Clinton River

The Clinton is a Controlled Fishery, operating on a balloted beat system. There are three beats – lower, middle and upper. The rules are listed on the F&G website.

Access is by boat only and the river floods quickly so be prepared for this. The upper section requires some walking to and expect to share the track with many curious trampers. The fish are wary and the fishing can be tough when the weather is hot and the water is crystal clear. There are easier rivers to catch big fish in, but this is a memorable river to visit.

Worsley River

This Controlled Fishery is in the Glaisnock Wilderness Zone so no guiding is possible. Ensure you have an able companion if fishing in this very remote area of the Fiordland National Park.

As with the Clinton River, securing a ballot spot can be challenging. If you get onto the river, use long fine leaders and stay low to avoid being spotted. The fish often keep feeding, but are aware of your presence. The river is easily waded at key points and there’s a track on the true left bank to find your way back to the Worsley Hut.

Ohau River (Controlled Fishery with a balloted Spring Season)

The upper section of the Ohau river, from its confluence with Lake Ruataniwha upstream to the Lake Ōhau Weir, is open for an annual ‘Spring Season’ controlled fishery through September and October, with a ballot limited to just 254 anglers and conducted each winter by the Central South Island Fish and Game team.

I can attest that it’s tough to get a spot on this water for the Spring Season, but if you and your group win a prized ballot position, enjoy this unique fishery and its enormous fish.