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Proposed temporary fishery closures in the Hauraki Gulf

Update – 7 August 2024

Minister’s decision

Following consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has decided to impose 3 temporary fisheries closures in the Hauraki Gulf from 7 August 2024 to 6 August 2026, inclusive.

Consultation background

Fisheries New Zealand sought feedback on a request for 3 temporary fishery closures in the Hauraki Gulf. The request was for areas at:

  • Waiheke Island
  • Umupuia Beach
  • Te Mātā and Waipatukahu.

The request was from Ngāti Pāoa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, and Ngāti Tamaterā. Ngāti Rehua Ngātiwai ki Aotea supported the request as part of the project 'Pou rāhui, pou tikanga, pou oranga: reigniting the mauri of Tīkapa moana and Te Moananui-ā-Toi'. 

The temporary fishery closures were requested under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996.

The requests were for 2 years.

We invited written submissions from anyone who has an interest in the species concerned or in the effects of fishing in the areas concerned.

The closure request [PDF, 1.8 MB]

Species affected by the proposed closures

Area  Iwi Prohibited species
Waiheke Island Ngāti Pāoa

Kūta (mussels), kōura (rock lobster), pāua and tipa (beach cast scallops).

The taking of other scallops is already prohibited under the Fisheries Act 1996.
Umupuia Beach Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Tuangi (cockles)
Te Mātā and Waipatukahu Ngāti Tamaterā Tio (oysters), kūtai (mussels), pipi and tuangi (cockles)

Area boundaries of the proposed closures

Map of the proposed Waiheke Island temporary closure [PDF, 24 MB]

Map of the proposed Umupuia beach temporary closure [PDF, 1019 KB]

Map of the proposed Te Mātā and Waipatukahu temporary closure [PDF, 2.6 MB]

Related information

Section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996 allows the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to temporarily close an area, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in respect of an area, if satisfied that the closure, restriction, or prohibition will recognise and provide for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.

Find out more about temporary closures

Public notices

A public notice about the call for submissions was scheduled to appear in the:

  • New Zealand Herald
  • Waikato Times
  • Hauraki Coromandel Post
  • Gulf News
  • Waiheke Weekender
  • Mercury Bay Informer.

Submissions are public information

Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

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