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Summarised by Centrist
After mounting public concern that coastal areas were being stripped bare, the government has imposed a two-year ban on taking shellfish and seaweed from rockpools north of Auckland.
The closure covers the entire Whangaparāoa Peninsula and extends to Kawau Bay and Ōmaha Bay. It takes effect from 12 March and will be enforced by fishery officers.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said while most people “gather only what is appropriate and legal”, others were “exploiting and collapsing ecosystems”.
The ban applies to all seaweed, shellfish and intertidal invertebrates found in rockpools, including sponges, starfish, anemones and sea cucumbers.
Sea urchins, or kina, are excluded and may still be taken within existing recreational limits. Jones said he chose to allow kina harvesting because “managing kina barrens is a priority for me”, adding that officials will “continue to actively monitor and manage kina population”. Spiny rock lobster and scallops were already subject to separate closures.
The move follows a 2024 application by the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust for a two-year legal ban under section 186A of the Fisheries Act. In January, the government said it was seeking urgent advice. Jones said Fisheries New Zealand worked with the trust “to enact a traditional rāhui”, though his decision “excludes some of the species and areas requested by Ngāti Manuhiri where existing closures and restrictions apply”.
The closure does not apply to aquaculture. Jones said it was important “that these coastal management restrictions do not impact on marine farming and the aquaculture development so it can continue to support our economy and provide jobs in our communities”.
Oceans and Fisheries Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft said officials “have been directed to explore how community volunteers can be supported to encourage visitors to do the right thing”. Fisheries New Zealand will also develop multilingual educational material to support the closure and ongoing management.
The Hauraki Gulf Forum welcomed the decision.
