Fish & Game New Zealand are calling for anglers and hunters to stay at home during the four-week lockdown.

While they are calling for people stay home, the Government says people can still go outdoors as long as they stick to the 2m rule.

"The advice we have is that at Alert Level 4 anglers and hunters should not undertake activities that expose them and others to higher levels of risk," says Fish & Game New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Taylor.

"We are also advised that DOC huts and campsites are closed as they do not meet minimum separation requirements."

This seems to be more of a recommendation, howver, rather than a rule, as NZ First have taken to twitter saying that people can still go outside, as long as they keep the 2m distance rule.

Having to self-isolate doesn't necessarily mean being locked indoors. You may go for a walk or exercise or hunt the roar, but keep a 2 metre distance from people at all times. pic.twitter.com/9RpIVuZUyw

— New Zealand First (@NZFirstNews) March 23, 2020

New Zealand Search and Rescue is also asking people to stick to simple outdoor exercise and avoid areas where they could get lost or require search and rescue.

NZSAR want to ensure that emergency services are available to help those in the greatest need.

Fishing and hunting, even close to home, inherently carry a degree of risk and it is important for anglers and hunters not to further burden our emergency services and healthcare system, says Fish & Game.

"It's heart-breaking to not be able to spend time in the outdoors, especially as for many of us this is our main way to destress, but we all have our part to play to beat COVID-19," says Martin.

"The point of the next four weeks is to kill the virus in New Zealand so that life goes back to normal as quickly as possible. Let's stay home for four weeks then we can get outdoors and back into angling and hunting."

The Level 4 lockdown period is scheduled to end prior to the start of the game bird season, and if we are all responsible during the next four weeks the game bird season is on.

"We ask for your patience while we piece together the complexities of what we are facing. In particular, we will have further advice on pegging day as soon as possible.

"It is our intention to give anglers and hunters ongoing updates on our facebook page and website."

Please keep up-to-date with all the most recent Government guidance around COVID-19 at www.covid19.govt.nz.