New Zealand Gundog Trial Association
  • Gun Dog Trialing
    • Overview >
      • Pointer Setter Trials
      • Retriever Pigeon Trials
      • Spaniel Natural Game Trials >
        • Simulated Spaniel
    • History of NZGTA
  • Rules & Regulations
  • Upcoming Events
    • 2025 Trials Calendar
    • 2025 Approved Schedules
    • 2024 Trials Calendar
    • 2024 Approved Schedules
  • Resources for Club Secretaries
    • NZGTA Executive
    • NZGTA Affiliated Gundog Clubs
    • Probationary & Approved Judges
    • The NZGTA Graded Gundog Training Scheme
  • Inquiry Form
  • Executive News Letters
  • Championship Title Winners
    • Achievement Titles
    • New Title Winners
    • Gundog of the Year
    • National Title Winners
    • Retriever Field Trial Champions >
      • Retriever Natural Game Champions
    • Pointer & Setter Field Trial Champions >
      • Pointer & Setter Natural Game Champions
    • Hall of Fame Est. 2022 >
      • 2022 - GFTCH Duke of Granger
      • 2023 - GFTCH Sandford Texas Ranger
      • 2023 - GFTCH Gun Smoke Rex
      • 2023 - GFTCH & GFCH Game Master Tanner (imp Aust)
      • 2024-GFTCH Greybanks Georgie
      • 2024 - GFTCh Hurleyhall Viking (Imp UK)
      • 2024 - GFTCH Island King
    • Spaniel Field Trial Champions >
      • Spaniel Natural Game Champions
  • Notices to Clubs and Members
  • Trial Results
    • 2024-2025 Trial Results
    • 2024 NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
    • 2023 NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

Competitive working trials for gun dogs have been held in New Zealand since the early 1900’s.

Originally administered by the NZ Kennel Club (NZKC) and governed by English Kennel Club rules, both purebred and crossbred gun dogs competed on equal footing until the NZKC introduced regulations relating to purebreds and registration in 1936. The first working gun dog in New Zealand won its title in 1936 ~ Dual Champion (Field and Show) Pompey, a Labrador from Christchurch owned by Mr C McBeath.

In the early days, gun dogs were trialed on game which was shot over them, but because of the growing popularity of the sport and the lack of wild game birds, it became necessary to substitute feral pigeons for the “real thing”. Thereafter in field trials, pigeons were shot over the dogs, until the practice was prohibited in 1953, with the passing of the Wildlife Act 1953.

Nowadays, “simulated” field trials are conducted using blank shots 
which are fired over homing pigeons released from cages to imitate flushing game birds or fired at cold dead game to test retrieving. Natural Game trials re-commenced in 1984 and are held for pointing or setting breeds, retrievers and spaniels. In these trials, only wild game is hunted. Game birds are shot over dogs within the gazetted hunting season according to license conditions. Trials on “wild” game can be held outside of the hunting season, but blanks are fired over pointing & setting breeds and fur only is shot over spaniels.

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  • Gun Dog Trialing
    • Overview >
      • Pointer Setter Trials
      • Retriever Pigeon Trials
      • Spaniel Natural Game Trials >
        • Simulated Spaniel
    • History of NZGTA
  • Rules & Regulations
  • Upcoming Events
    • 2025 Trials Calendar
    • 2025 Approved Schedules
    • 2024 Trials Calendar
    • 2024 Approved Schedules
  • Resources for Club Secretaries
    • NZGTA Executive
    • NZGTA Affiliated Gundog Clubs
    • Probationary & Approved Judges
    • The NZGTA Graded Gundog Training Scheme
  • Inquiry Form
  • Executive News Letters
  • Championship Title Winners
    • Achievement Titles
    • New Title Winners
    • Gundog of the Year
    • National Title Winners
    • Retriever Field Trial Champions >
      • Retriever Natural Game Champions
    • Pointer & Setter Field Trial Champions >
      • Pointer & Setter Natural Game Champions
    • Hall of Fame Est. 2022 >
      • 2022 - GFTCH Duke of Granger
      • 2023 - GFTCH Sandford Texas Ranger
      • 2023 - GFTCH Gun Smoke Rex
      • 2023 - GFTCH & GFCH Game Master Tanner (imp Aust)
      • 2024-GFTCH Greybanks Georgie
      • 2024 - GFTCh Hurleyhall Viking (Imp UK)
      • 2024 - GFTCH Island King
    • Spaniel Field Trial Champions >
      • Spaniel Natural Game Champions
  • Notices to Clubs and Members
  • Trial Results
    • 2024-2025 Trial Results
    • 2024 NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
    • 2023 NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS