Duck hunters who were planning to access the popular Awarua Bay wetland area to tag their maimai, no longer need to thanks to a last minute resolution from Fish and Game Southland.

The area, covering over 1300 hectares remains an active fire scene and strictly off-limits to all members of the public.

This comes after a devastating blaze tore through the wetland this week.

A large number of Fire and Emergency personnel remain on the scene, containing the fire and dampening down hotspots.

Fish and Game Southland manager Zane Moss said duck hunters do not need to tag their spot within the active fire area this year, following a resolution from the council last night.

"People with ponds or maimais that they tagged within that active fire area - their pegs from last season will suffice for this year," he said.

"If they haven't already tagged their pond, they don't need to worry for this season"

There was now no necessity for people to enter the area, potentially taking risks and or breaking the law, he said.

Moss said the new resolution covers an area, "East of a line from the end of White Pine Road right across to the top end of Duck Creek."

Saturday (9 April) is the day duck hunters usually tag (or peg) their maimais.

Tagging guarantees a hunter exclusive rights to that spot, when duck hunting season begins.

The Southland duck hunting season begins on Saturday 7 May.