Southern Lakes NZDA upcoming events

Steele Creek RHA – NZDA Southern Lakes Member Ballot Spots (1 Jul 2026)

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Steele Creek RHA – NZDA Southern Lakes Member Ballot Spots

A couple of rare chances to hunt the Steele Creek block within the Greenstone–Caples RHA are available to current NZDA Southern Lakes members. These will go fast.

Remaining ballot periods

1–5 July — 3 spots remain
6–10 July — 2 spots remain
11–15 July — Full

Important notes

This is not a club-organised hunt. You must arrange your own logistics:
update THERE WILL BE HELI FLIGHTS on the 6th and 10th JULY for $250 each way you fly to coordinate with other work at mid greenstone hut. Or
please arrange your own - Hut booking, transport/heli, food, and gear.
Open to current or NEW - NZDA Southern Lakes members only before the ballot
Steele Creek block info and conditions: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/hunting/where-to-hunt/otago/greenstone-caples-recreational-hunting-area-rha/where-to-hunt/steele-creek/

How to secure a spot

Contact: Dave Rider — 021 969 350 or dave.rider@southernlakesnzda.org.nz he will need your details -Firearms licence number, FL expiry, address and phone and vehicle Rego if parking at greenstone carpark and will arrange the hunting ballots with DOC directly on your behalf.

Club contact

Nic Probst — Secretary, NZDA Southern Lakes
022 140 6932

Happy hunting and safe travels.

Committee Meeting (9 Jul 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Our committee meetings are open to all members, and we encourage anyone interested in helping to organise and support the club to come along.

These meetings are where we plan upcoming events, discuss conservation projects, and make decisions that keep the branch running smoothly.

Members are encouraged to contribute ideas or propose events for the committee to consider. To keep meetings efficient, we ask that any proposals be submitted by email 7 days in advance so they can be circulated to the committee before the meeting.

For more information or to submit a proposal please email info@southernlakesnzda.org.nz.

Voting on decisions remains the role of committee members.

When: 2nd Thursday of every month, 7:30pm
Where: Online via Zoom
How to join: A Zoom link will be shared with members on registration

10-12 July Matariki long weekend - Upper Caples Hut Working Bee (10 Jul 2026)

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMT

URGENT ! Working bee - Upper Caples Hut

Due to storm damage we need some committed members to come and assist on this weekend. The Primary focus of this trip is clear fallen trees across the track at the hut, Fix the damaged water line and to dig a new hole for the toilets as the current one is getting pretty full. other items include Replenish firewood supplies, and undertake general tidy up Maintenance of the hut.

Sorry no hunting on this trip as we do not have the ballot for this weekend

These working bees are always a popular and fun event and give back to the community and support the clubs management agreement of the huts.

We need another 3 bodies minimum, ideally 4 but the more the merrier and quicker the work will get done.

Work planned
We plan to achieve the following during this working bee

Clear fallen trees across the track and turn into firewood.
Fix damaged water line around these treesD
Dig a new toilet hole and move teh toilet over this.
Clean the toilets and move to the new location with new foundations.
reconnect the hut creek water supply.
restocking and Splitting firewood for the hut from previously ringed up trees.
Clean out the grease trap.
Check smoke alarm and monoxide battery conditions.
Eat, drink and be merry.

It is pretty casual and we aim to make it social and its a great place to de-stress by getting into the backcountry :-).

The Club will provide heli fight in and out and some food or you can walk in or out and have your gear flown in/out. The club will be paying for the helicopter.

We will need to limit it to 5 adults for the chopper but plenty of room in the hut if you want to walk in and help out.

Accommodation:

We will stay at the upper Caples Club hut (16 bunks).

Get on our website and look up our hut so you can see what is already there and the sleeping set ups etc. the club will arrange keys etc so don't worry about that.

Getting there
Heli flights for those in first (up to 4 spots) are available based on actual gear loading as we are only planning 1 flight in and out to save costs.

Heli flights would leave from the Glenorchy aerodrome just before you get into Glenorchy.

Walking requires you to drive (additional 45 minutes) around or carpool and park at the Greenstone/Caples track carpark. You can fly one way and walk the other, but will need to coordinate pick ups as they are two completely different locations to end up at. we can sort this via discussion when we know who is coming.

CLUB MEMBERSHIP

You do not need to be a paid up current member of the club, we just need able strong bodied individuals.

What time does the Heli fly?
Once we get closer to the time and have confirmed numbers, we will advise the times of the helicopters and further details, but it will be based on best situation for all so you will need to be slightly flexible. However at this stage 10am Friday 10th and 5pm Sunday 12th are proposed

What do I bring?
Overalls (optional), boots, hut shoe/slippers, snack or other dietery requirement food for you, clothes, towel, toiletries, sleeping bag/under sheet, working gloves, tools (will be advised closer to the time). A willingness to have fun, get dirty and enjoy being in the bush with like-minded people and learn heaps.

If someone wants to come in and be camp mother/father who sorts the dinners/ lunches/breakfasts for the team so they can not worry about it then, that would be fabulous, and we would coordinate a communal food menu.

its a long weekend so no leave required from work!!

We will set up a whats app chat group for coordination so you can ask any questions/ coordinate carpooling etc etc.

And the most amazing part - is there will be no sandflies!!!! (little buggers will be frozen to death...)

July Monthly Club Meeting (30 Jul 2026)

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:00:00 GMT

WHEN

Last Thursday of the Month
Bar opens at 6.30pm for social catch up
Meeting starts at 7.30pm.

WHERE

Arrowtown Bowling Club, 6 Hertford St, Arrowtown (next to the Arrowtown Fire station)

THEME OF MEETING

July Club Night – Search & Rescue - Johnny Franklin & Team

Join us Thursday 30th July at the Arrowtown Bowling Club for another great club night, this month we have the search and rescue team in to chat.

All member and interested guests are welcome. Come along and be part of the positive impact we’re making together.

NEW MEMBER?

Come join us for social drinks before the club meeting and meet the members. New faces always welcome.

ZOOM

Alternatively join us via zoom (same link every meeting)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82994024744?pwd=U2xObThpUVdkRjhQTUxTd3MyL0RPQT09

Committee Meeting (13 Aug 2026)

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Our committee meetings are open to all members, and we encourage anyone interested in helping to organise and support the club to come along.

These meetings are where we plan upcoming events, discuss conservation projects, and make decisions that keep the branch running smoothly.

For more information or to submit a proposal please email info@southernlakesnzda.org.nz.

August Monthly Club Meeting (27 Aug 2026)

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 07:00:00 GMT

WHEN

Last Thursday of the Month
Bar opens at 6.30pm for social catch up
Meeting starts at 7.30pm.

WHERE

Arrowtown Bowling Club, 6 Hertford St, Arrowtown (next to the Arrowtown Fire station)

THEME OF MEETING

Join us for our August meeting where we’ll be hosting Steve Couper from Stealth Flims who will be talking about his experience working with Ken Tustin and searching for the illusive Fiordland Moose...

NEW MEMBER?

Come join us for social drinks before the club meeting and meet the members. New faces always welcome.

ZOOM

Alternatively join us via zoom (same link every meeting)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82994024744?pwd=U2xObThpUVdkRjhQTUxTd3MyL0RPQT09

Committee Meeting (10 Sep 2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Our committee meetings are open to all members, and we encourage anyone interested in helping to organise and support the club to come along.

These meetings are where we plan upcoming events, discuss conservation projects, and make decisions that keep the branch running smoothly.

For more information or to submit a proposal please email info@southernlakesnzda.org.nz.

Committee Meeting (8 Oct 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 06:30:00 GMT

Our committee meetings are open to all members, and we encourage anyone interested in helping to organise and support the club to come along.

These meetings are where we plan upcoming events, discuss conservation projects, and make decisions that keep the branch running smoothly.

For more information or to submit a proposal please email info@southernlakesnzda.org.nz.

Committee Meeting (12 Nov 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 06:30:00 GMT

Our committee meetings are open to all members, and we encourage anyone interested in helping to organise and support the club to come along.

These meetings are where we plan upcoming events, discuss conservation projects, and make decisions that keep the branch running smoothly.

For more information or to submit a proposal please email info@southernlakesnzda.org.nz.

Committee Meeting (10 Dec 2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 06:30:00 GMT

Our committee meetings are open to all members, and we encourage anyone interested in helping to organise and support the club to come along.

These meetings are where we plan upcoming events, discuss conservation projects, and make decisions that keep the branch running smoothly.

For more information or to submit a proposal please email info@southernlakesnzda.org.nz.