Manuka Point Lodge, New Zealand Hunting NZ, Red Stag, Tahr, Chamoi

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Trophy Hunting

Manuka Point Lodge

Trophy Gallery

The red stag trophies of the Rakaia are renowned worldwide for their outstanding quality. Well documented in many publications including 'Deer Shooting Days'. Author Joff Thompson was a professional hunter, representing the toughest, hardiest men of a country where self-reliance and love of outdoor life are national characteristics.

Since 1907 the Rakaia Valley has produced many of the finest fair chase red stag trophies ever secured in New Zealand.

The red stag lineage can be traced back as far as 1066 to Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, England, which has been owned by many members of the British royalty.

The trophy quality of the red deer from Stoke Park was known to the early New Zealand pioneers, so after successful negotiations the steamer SS 'Waikato' departed London on 23rd February 1897 with three stags and six hinds secure in crates on the foredeck.

This small foundation herd of Rakaia red deer was finally released into the wild at Manuka Point on 21st October 1897.

These precious deer were placed under total protection until the first hunting licenses were issued to select persons in April 1907, and from that very first trophy season the reputation of the quality of trophy spread worldwide.

For much of the last century British gentlemen, noblemen, and even a Governor-General of New Zealand traveled to the Rakaia Valley and Manuka Point to secure trophy red stags, now considered to be superior to the best of Stoke Park.

Legendary Ted Porter author of 'Under The Nor' West Arch' became known as a real back country character and is synonymous with the very name Manuka Point. A shepherd and hunter who knew and understood the stern reality of the hills, he was also a man of laughter and a great practical joker.

Centennial Cabin

Built by Ted Porter of Manuka Point Station in Canterbury's Centennial Year 1951. Ted's last entry in the original hut book 2.9.54:

"This brings to an end 30 years of shooting in the Rakaia, seventeen of them on Manuka Point, mostly in the Mathias as a commercial hunter. I now retire and leave for a new life and a position at the Harper River with he state Hydro. I hope to see the odd deer there, but will miss the times and thrills I have experienced here, and the good fellows I have met over the years at the Point. Please look after this cabin as it has given me shelter and I hope it will do the same for many others wanderers of the mountains over the years to come. It is not easy to make this last entry and whenever I hear the name Mathias or Manuka Point again it is going to bring back happy memories or recall the feeling I have now of saying farewell to the Centennial Cabin and the mountains of the Mathias."
Ted Porter