Sport Fly Fishing New Zealand Oceania Fly Fishing Championships
**Great event on in our area!! Let’s welcome all the visitors and locals who are participating**
PUBLIC NOTICE
Sport Fly Fishing New Zealand Oceania Fly Fishing Championships – April 2026
17–22 April 2026 Taumarunui & National Park
To whom it may concern,
Notification of fly fishing event
Sport Fly Fishing New Zealand is pleased to announce that NZ will be hosting the Oceania Fly Fishing
Championships from 17–22 April 2026, with events taking place across Taumarunui, Taupō, and Waimarino
(National Park). This prestigious international competition will feature two teams from New Zealand and two
teams from Australia, each consisting of five anglers and one reserve, representing some of the finest
competitive fly fishers in the Southern Hemisphere.
As per our annual calendar of competitions we seek to provide notice of these types of events in advance. To
avoid disruption and enable other recreational users to also plan ahead.
Competition Venues & Event Schedule
Lake Kuratau – 18 April
• Loch-style still-water event
• Two sessions, each three hours, fished from drifting boats
• A technical and scenic venue set within a beautiful valley
• Two three-hour sessions each day
Whanganui River – 19, 20, 21 April
• Competition water runs from upstream of the Piriaka Power Station to Cherry Grove Reserve and the confluence of the Ongarue River
• The Whanganui around the settlement is an iconic New Zealand river offering diverse water and challenging wild trout
• The event is centred around the township to minimise impact on more scenic angling opportunities further up and down the river outside of the urban area
(Note to all competitors : the section of river we will use for the Whanganui is now closed to competitors and their agents. Here are the upper and lower limits to make it clear. The river above and below this section is open for practice. The best access is Pukehou Rd.)
Event Hub
Championship activities will be based in Taumarunui and at The Park Hotel Ruapehu, in Waimarino Village, where teams,
officials, and supporters will be hosted throughout the week.
International Representation
While a small event compared to other international fly fishing championships (such as the world champs
which were hosted in NZ in 2008), this event strengthens trans-Tasman sporting ties and highlights New
Zealand’s world-class freshwater angling opportunities. The Oceania Championships were last held in New
Zealand in 2017, where our national team secured both team and individual gold.
Public notice Oceania Championships 2026
Community & Media Engagement
Local councils, media outlets, fishing clubs, and community groups are warmly invited to:
• Share event information
• Support visiting teams
• Promote responsible angling and river stewardship
• Encourage respectful spectating at competition venues
Public Updates
Live updates, session results, and photos will be shared throughout the week on Sport Fly Fishing NZ’s official
social media channels. We encourage communities to follow along and celebrate the athletes representing
New Zealand on home waters.
Thank you for your support
We appreciate your cooperation and support over the few days this event will run. We extend our special
thanks to the land owners who provide access to Lake Kuratau (and thanks KCE), and land owners along the Whanganui River. Thank you to the
Department of Conservation and Fish & Game for approving the running of these events at the selected
locations.
Kind regard
Sport Fly Fishing New Zealand (SFFNZ)
For all enquires please email [email protected]