Fish & Game says there is confusion as to the current status of Canada geese and is warning hunting of them until the beginning of the game bird season on 7 May.
Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson has lifted the protected game bird status of Canada geese to allow culls of the birds.
That means Fish & Game will no longer manage the geese and farmers will not be required to have a permit to shoot them.
But the agency says the birds are still protected until the change comes into effect, and hunters cannot shoot them out of season.