Source: NZ Department of Conservation
Date: 07 October 2025 Source: Office of the Minister of Conservation
“For years, communities and people across the political divide have despaired at the effects of the Gulf’s long-standing ecological decline leading to desolate kina barrens and habitat loss,” Mr Potaka says.
“Today, National has delivered the biggest new marine protection area in more than a decade for Aotearoa/New Zealand. We’ve taken a once-in-a-generation step to turn around the health of the Gulf by nearly tripling marine protection and creating 19 new protection areas.
“In the decades to come, we expect to see fish stocks like tāmure (snapper) and kōura (rock lobster) rebuilding, richer kelp forests creating underwater nurseries, and seabird colonies found nowhere else in the world living healthier on offshore islands. Imagine children fishing off an Auckland wharf into waters once again thriving,” Mr Potaka says.
“This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the world’s first marine reserve, Goat Island / Te Hāwere a Maki, which will more than triple in size under the Act. Where once fish were scarce, it’s now a living classroom enjoyed by 350,000 people visiting every year, and it produces ten times more snapper than any comparable stretch of coast in the Gulf.
“Many New Zealanders know the beauty of the Gulf is a catalyst for local economies through tourism, recreation and fishing. The NZ Institute of Economic Research recently estimated its economic value at $100 billion.
“Overall, the legislation ensures we balance the needs of communities, the environment and the economy. We are establishing High Protection Areas for 800 square kilometres while limited local ring-net fishing for common species will only be allowed in three per cent of the total protected area. This will be reviewed after three years.
“A new team of DOC Marine Rangers are out on the water now, educating the public, ensuring compliance, and monitoring the effectiveness of all changes.
“The Act is the culmination of a process that began in 2013 with the Sea Change Project. I acknowledge the many years of mahi from many, for example the Hauraki Gulf Forum and iwi such as Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki.”
“The new legislation will come into place before the end of the year. We will be reinforcing this mahi with further International Visitor Levy investment into protecting the Hauraki Gulf to be announced soon.”
Te ārahi i te tiakanga o Tīkapa Moana
Nō tā te Pāremata whakature i te Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act, kua tau te ture ki te takiwā māia hou o te tiakanga moana mō tētahi o ō tātou horamoana tino wheriko nei, ko tā Te Minita Whāomoomo, ko tā Tama Potaka.
“I matapōuri ngā hapori me ngā tāngata i ia taha o te rohenga tōrangapū, i roto i ngā tau maha, nā runga anō i ngā pānga o te tupuheke hauropi mauroa o Tīkapa Moana, ko tōna hua ko te tūpā o ngā wāhi kina me te ngaronga o te nōhanga,” ko tā Matua Potaka.
“I tēnei rā, kua tukua e Nāhinara te rohe moana tiakanga hou, ā, koinei te mea tino nui o ngā rohe moana tiakanga hou i Aotearoa nei i te neke atu i te kotahi ngahurutau. Ka oti i a mātou te mahi me uaua ka kitea anō i te reanga kotahi, e takahuria ai te hauora o Tīkapa Moana, mā te tata ki te reatoru i te nui o te tiakanga moana me te waihanga i te 19 o ngā rohe tiakanga hou.
“Hei ngā ngahurutau e heke mai ana, e tāria ana te kitea atu i te ranea haere o ngā mahinga ika pērā i te tāmure me te kōura, i ngā ngahere rimurapa haumako ake hei kōhanga i raro i te wai, i te pikinga ki te hauora o ngā kāhui manu moana, tē kitea i wāhi kē atu i te ao, i ngā motu. Pohewatia ngā tamariki e hī ika ana i tētahi wāpu i Tāmaki Makaurau ki ngā wai kua tōnui anō ōna hua,” ko tā Matua Potaka.
“Ka whakanuia i tēnei tau te huritau te 50 o te āpure moana tuatahi o te ao, arā ko Te Hāwere a Maki, ka reatorutia tōna rahinga i raro i te Ture nei. Tērā te wā e ongeonge ana te ika i taua wāhi, ināianei he akomanga mataora kē te wāhi rā, e 350,000 ngā tāngata e toro atu ana ki Te Hāwere a Maki i ia tau, ā, ka whakareatia ki te tekau tōna whakaputa tāmure ina whakatairitea ki tētahi wāhi ōrite o te takutai i Tīkapa Moana.
“Tokomaha ngā tāngata o Aotearoa e mōhio nei, hāpaingia ai ngā ōhanga o te rohe, e te rerehua o Tīkapa Moana, mā te tāpoi, mā te mahi rēhia, mā te hī ika hoki. Nō nākuanei, ko te whakatau tata o te NZ Institute of Economic Research, $100 piriona tōna wāriu ā-ohaoha.
“Hui tahi, kua whakaritea e te ture e whakatauritehia ai e tātou ngā hiahia o ngā hapori, o te taiao, me te ōhanga. Kei te whakatūria e mātou ngā Rohe Tiakanga Nui (High Protection Areas) ki te 800 kiromita pūrua, ā, ka whakaaetia ki te toru ōrau anake o te tapeke o te wāhi tiakanga, ētahi mahi hopu-porowhita i ngā momo ika e tino kitea ana. Arotakehia ai tēnei i muri i te toru tau.
“Kua tū mai tētahi rōpū hou o ngā Tāngata Tiaki Moana o Te Papa Atawhai, e rere haere nei i te wai, e whakaritea ai te uruhi, e aroturukihia ai hoki te whai hua o ngā panonitanga katoa.
“He hua tēnei Ture o tētahi tukanga i tīmatahia i te tau 2013 ki te kaupapa e kīia nei ko te Sea Change Project. E mihi ana ahau ki ngā tini mahi a te tangata rau, i roto i ngā tau, hei tauira, ko Te Wānanga o Tīkapa Moana me ngā iwi pērā i a Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki.”
“Ka whai mana te ture hou mua i te mutunga o te tau. Whakaūngia ai e mātou tēnei mahi mā te haumitanga atu anō o te International Visitor Levy ki te tiaki i a Tīkapa Moana, ā, ka whakapuakina ai ā kō ake nei.”
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