Adrian Martin’s Time with Poronui

Adrian Martin’s Time with Poronui

Adrian Martin is an entrepreneur from Brussels who first visited Poronui by chance two decades ago. Since he and his young family started calling New Zealand home, they’ve visited the Estate every year, experiencing all the hunting and fishing we have on offer.

Poronui has been part of my life for more than 18 years. At this point, it feels like a second home.

I first discovered Poronui by serendipity. Nearly two decades ago, my future wife and I were backpacking through New Zealand on a tight budget. Thanks to a generous gift from my father, we spent two nights at Huka Lodge and enjoyed a day of guided fly fishing. Our guide spoke with such enthusiasm about the world-class fishing at Poronui Lodge. When we said it was out of our reach financially, he kindly checked – and Poronui offered us an incredible special deal for one unforgettable night.

That single experience hooked us completely. As the years went by and life allowed, we kept returning. We moved to New Zealand permanently in 2018, and when Poronui introduced its pheasant hunts, it became an annual pilgrimage to visit the Estate.

Sika deer hunting, in particular, is my absolute favorite – there’s nowhere better to pursue these challenging trophies than on the Estate. I’m not chasing the biggest Red Stags at Poronui, though they’re magnificent. For me, it’s always about the perfect blend of hunting and fly fishing, the thrill of pheasant shooting, and above all, stalking Sika deer. The combination of pristine rivers for trophy browns and rainbows, plus hunting in that wild landscape, is unbeatable.

There are far too many great moments to count, but if I had to pick one standout, it’s my son’s most recent Sika hunt. He’s already taken several beautiful sika stags here – including one when he was age nine – but just last year he made an extraordinary 280-meter shot uphill in pouring rain that we’ll never forget. Moments like that make every visit epic.

For anyone considering a visit, my advice is to dive in and embrace the very best of New Zealand’s wilderness and everything Poronui offers.