Hauraki Gulf fisheries closure: 2-year ban on seaweed and invertebrate harvesting begins March 2026 across Ōmaha Bay, Kawau Bay, and Whangaparāoa Peninsula.
Following this consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has announced a 2-year closure of the fisheries waters in the following areas of the Hauraki Gulf:
- Ōmaha Bay: between the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve and the Tāwharanui Marine Reserve, extending offshore to 200 metres. This closure also includes a 200-metre radius around Panetiki Island/The Outpost and the island in Te Kohuroa/Mathesons Bay.
- Kawau Bay: between the Tāwharanui Marine Reserve and the Kawau Bay High Protection Area (HPA), extending offshore to 200 metres.
- Whangaparāoa Peninsula: between the mouth of the Ōrewa River and the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve, extending offshore for approximately 200 metres. This closure also includes all of Ōkoromai Bay and Te Haruhi Bay.
The closure prohibits the harvesting of all seaweed species and invertebrate species. An invertebrate means any aquatic life that is a multicellular animal without a backbone or a dorsal spinal column. This includes, but is not limited to, shellfish and molluscs (cat’s eyes, chitons, cockles, limpets, mussels, oysters, pāua, pipi, sea snails and tuatua), crustaceans (barnacles and crabs), jellyfish, sea anemones, sea squirts, sponges, and starfish.
This closure does not apply to spiny rock lobster and scallops as there are already closures in place for these species. Kina (sea urchin) is also excluded from the closure and can still be taken within the current recreational fishing limits.
The closure will come into effect on 12 March 2026.
For further information and general enquiries, call MPI on 0800 008 333 or email info@mpi.govt.nz
For media enquiries, contact the media team on 029 894 0328.
