The whitebaiting season runs from 01 September to 30 October for those at Waikawa Beach. (Chatham Islands has a different season.)
Detailed rules and links to useful leaflets and the relevant Law are available at the link above.
What are whitebait?
Whitebait are the juveniles of six freshwater fish (īnanga, banded kōkopu, giant kōkopu, shortjaw kokopu, kōaro and common smelt) which return upstream each spring to find suitable adult habitat. Four of these species are threatened or at risk of extinction.
