Source: Radio New Zealand
Ben Chissell, organiser of the One Ocean Protest in Auckland on 22 November 2025, fishing on the Hauraki Gulf, with his family. supplied
A convoy of recreational fishers is expected to delay traffic as it makes its way across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, along Tamaki Drive and onto Mission Bay on Saturday morning.
The One Ocean protest, co-organised by fishing enthusiast Ben Chissell, targets aspects of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act and other proposed fishing reforms.
The law, which came into effect in October, created a group of new marine protected zones while also allowing exclusive use of two highly protected areas by commercial ring-net fishing operators.
Chissell earlier said the protest was not against commercial fishing but his position was that if the Hauraki Gulf was so badly depleted that areas needed to be shut off, then no-one should fish them.
He said protesters would come from all over to join the convoy on its 30km journey from the Albany Park n Ride departing at 8.30am.
“We’ve got people coming from Kaitaia, Ahipara, Tauranga, Whitianga, Waikato, all over the show. We’ve got guys putting their boats on trailers, getting on the ferry from Waiheke and Great Barrier and coming over.
“So it’s going to be a lot bigger than I guess even when we initially hoped.”
A spokesperson for the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) told the NZ Herald the protest could cause congestion across the city.
The convoy would enter State Highway 1 via the Oteha Valley Road on-ramp and head toward the Port via SH16 and then to Kohimarama Road via Tamaki Drive.
There would be a police presence at the Albany Park ‘n’ Ride and police would escort the protest along the route while parking wardens were in place to manage the roll out, according to protest information.
There should be no “boat riding”, organisers said and banners and flags must be secured.
“This is a peaceful protest, and our goal is a safe and successful event. Please use common sense, look out for one another, and remember, we’re all in this together,” the One Ocean website said.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
