Protect Rock Pool Sea Life

13/05/2026

YOUR VOICE MATTERS

It takes a few minutes to have your say and share your perspective - these are read by people who can make a difference - backed by your comments.

This link will take you straight to the form - encourage others you know to submit too.

Thanks in advance.
My best
Mary

Please click the link to complete this form.

15/02/2026

Understanding the importance of rock pools and intertidal area

14/02/2026

U P D A T E BREAKING NEWS

MPI have granted a two year temporary ban on harvesting sealife from intertidal area.

Protect Rock Pool Sea Life spearheaded and kickstarted this push 3-4 years ago and getting this all important 186a Temporary Ban result is a culmination of years of work. Our petition and submission 3-4 years ago laid the groundwork for people’s awareness and fostering MPI to understand what has been happening and the evergrowing numbers of people ‘scorched earth’ scouring practices. Even bus tours are now operating taking bus loads to the rockpool coastlines. NO MORE

I have been partnering the dynamic Mark Lenton and his devoted group Protect Whangaparāoa Rock Pools - and finally common sense has won the day.

This is just the start: there is more work to do:

1. Getting the limited coastal ban extended to greater areas given the ‘scorched earth’ practices having people travel to go further afield to collect.

2. Working with Fisheries to train a new group of Honarary Fisheries Officers to monitor and enforce and gently education people of the new rules and ethos.

3. Working with the Education Dept to embrace The Tiaki Promise tennents - ground up from pre-school tamariki through to senior students. Creating units - age appropriate of course - to introduce, inform and adopt a kaitiaki thinking.

4. Engage with media and cultural groups to explain and foster our Kiwi ways and concerns.

THANK YOU - FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND CARE AND ENGAGEMENT - THIS IS YOUR VICTORY TOO.

FYI:
Tourism and Tiaki Promise

The Tiaki Promise is a pledge for visitors and residents to care for New Zealand, protecting its people, environment, and culture for future generations. It encourages acting as a guardian (tiaki) by travelling safely, respecting local culture, and leaving no trace on the land, sea, and nature.
This video explains the Tiaki Promise and its importance for visitors in New Zealand:

Key commitments of the Tiaki Promise include:

Care for Land, Sea, and Nature: Treading lightly and leaving no trace.
Travel Safely: Showing care and consideration for all, and being prepared.
Respect Culture: Traveling with an open heart and mind.

Key Principles for Visitors:
Protect Nature: Keep New Zealand clean.
Drive Carefully: Follow road rules, as driving conditions can be challenging.
Be Prepared: Plan ahead for changing weather and remote, rugged terrain.
The promise is a partnership to ensure New Zealand remains a special place.

PROTECT WHANGAPARĀOA ROCKPOOLS

**BREAKING NEWS: SHANE JONES ORDERS TWO-YEAR HARVESTING BAN FROM 6 MARCH**

Shane Jones has made his decisions following Ngati Manuhiri’s section 186A application last year. There are some notable changes to the original aplication.

The Government will introduce a two-year ban that will apply strictly to rocky intertidal zones where rockpool sea life has been decimated. That includes:

Zone 1: The coastline between Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve and Tāwharanui Marine Reserve. This includes Omaha.

Zone 2: The area between Tāwharanui Marine Reserve and the Kawau Bay High Protection Area.

Zone 3: The Whangaparāoa Peninsula, specifically from the Ōrewa River to the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve. This includes Okoromai Bay.

These changes are in conjunction with existing HPA, SPA and crayfish and scallop rules.

Starting from March 6, it will be illegal to harvest most invertebrates and seaweeds within 200 metres of the high-water mark in these three zones.

Ngati Manuhiri’s original application proposed closures across its entire jurisdiction from Mangawhai to south of Okura River inc inner Hauraki Gulf Island, however:

Mangawhai to Goat Island remains open.

Mahurangi West, Waiwera, Hatfields and Orewa remain open.

South of Long Bay remains open.

Inner Hauraki Gulf Islands remain open.

(See the Sunday Star Times map for full details).

This is an outstanding win for Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools (PWR), our Whangaparāoa communitity, other impacted areas and most importantly, our marine life. It is a blueprint for all of New Zealand and continues the excellent work that Mary Coupe started in Omaha a few years ago.

We still expect Ngati Manuhiri to place their rahui across their entire jurisdication.

More to follow…

The Fisheries Minister says organised busloads stripping Auckland’s coast won’t be tolerated, while promising beaches will stay open to families.

27/01/2026

https://www.localmatters.co.nz/hibiscus-news/blueprint-for-the-future-of-our-coastlines/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPk9yJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xNzM4NDc2NDI2NzAzNzAAAR5-k-DCSKvczULo3tCdA0KVmdQZPVxdYczh20dM8NZs5e7PyfhMQOqoAGXNWg_aem_BkWfvvGq9cdZMUsYUpf-Vw

A protest led by Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools (PWR) has sparked a nationwide discussion about protecting New Zealand’s coastline from overharvest

17/01/2026

U P D A T E - Whangaparoa Protect Rock Pools Demonstration - today Army Bay

Wow - what a turn out 400-500 people - lots of media, local Polititicians, and passionate locals who went all out to get the message across that our rock pool / intertidal areas need protecting.

We thought we had it bad here at Omaha ; multiply that by 10 and you’ll get a sense of the numbers of visitors chiseling, hammering, scraping any living things including seaweed - leaving a scorched ‘earth’ of nothing on the rocks.

First photo is me and Mark Lenton - an tireless dynamo champion who has spearheaded their campaign. A 186a Temporary ban is imminent - giving 2 years temporary reprieve from blanket destruction. Our campaign here in Omaha started 2020 - but people didn’t fully understand the importance of the intertidal areas. Fortunately we will be covered by the 186a ban - from Mangawhai to the lower North Shore.

I’ve been working with Mark for a year sharing any & all knowledge, providing whatever I could to partner them in their success. It’s been a privilege and a joy to be part of the dynamic campaign. Surprisingly I was presented with flowers for working with Mark - I was blessed to have so many of YOU, over the last 5 years, support our efforts to get protection for our intertidal areas. Please have those flowers give you a spark of hope and joy, as a thank you to you all. The news tonight should cover the protest.

13/01/2026

U P D A T E :

Many of you will remember our compaign to Protect Rock Pool Sea Life here at Omaha and surrounding areas. Sadly, our efforts were ‘stymied’ hitting a stone wall. People did not understand the critical nature of our campaign and the urgency to pause the destructive illegal harvesting that was happening.

NOW : 4 years later, people do understand the enormity of the problem.

I have been working with Mark Lenton over the past year - encouraging and partnering him in their campaign. Mark lives at Whangaparoa - which has been devasted - even bus tours of people paying for buckets, gumboots and tools to harvest rock pools and low tide areas. Huge numbers day and night.

F Y I

There is a big protest at Whangaparoa this weekend - Saturday 10 am. Lots of media and interested parties will be there. Consider going to support our taonga coastlines:

A message from:

Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools (PWR) Protest

Join us on Saturday 17th January at the Army Bay boat ramp at the Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools (PWR) protest. This is a chance for ALL Whangaparāoa residents and marine-life lovers to have their voices heard.

For far too long we have watched our beautiful rock pools and coastline being stripped of all marine plant and animal life. Outdated rules have enabled the pillaging of our intertidal zone and the ecosystem is rapidly depleting. IT MUST STOP NOW.

We need:

1. Protection for our rock pools and intertidal zone, through;

2. Law Change - a section 186A 2-year gathering ban and rahui must be applied now to;

3. Stop the intensive harvesting of all marine plant and animal life, plus;

4. Education to promote conservation and respect for our marine ecosystem

WHEN: SAT 17th JANUARY 2026

WHERE: ARMY BAY BOAT RAMP (SHAKESPEAR REGIONAL PARK)

TIME: 10AM - 2PM

This is a peaceful protest so kids are welcome.

Please design and bring along your own ‘respectable’ banner to display with pride. Show just how important this is to you and your family.

Our precious coastline must be protected for future generations and for the health of our marine environment. We're a strong community so let's show how much we care.

31/10/2025

Your voice counts : click in the link ti support a temporary ban 186a applicatiin for harvesting intertidal areas Thanks in advance

This covers a huge area it local coastlines

https://form.jotform.com/lentons04/PWR_s186A?fbclid=IwdGRjcANyEE5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHqlj9T5-AY4t4gA_tfME6TTd7oI-50rcBItHILCVKZD3V7-Mvtdm0hXcTcS3_aem_t7t5RXNpC9rDa12CRO6DlA

Please click the link to complete this form.

16/08/2025

THANK YOU SO MUCH for visiting our page

We don’t post much these days but we are working in the background - we are partnering Mark Lenton and his great team over at Whangaparoa.

Army Bay in particular has been hammered by over 300 + people a day over the weekends in particular decimating the rock pools and shore line.

When one of the very worried locals asked respectfully did he and his friends and family know the damage they were causing:

The 10 year old boy said ‘ Us Chinese people don’t care’. Of course the local was shocked at the casual and callous response.

We’ve generated lots of media attention, Mark Lenton has addressed the Hauraki Gulf Restoration Forum (for 20 minutes) sharing them on the ongoing decimation which is occurring.

Our local MPs including our Chris Penk are working on our behalf to get this resolved once and for all.

Hopefully Ngati Manuhiri will finally come on board and allow a 186a temporary ban in place for the many coastal areas which are still under attack. Ngati Manuhiri would not give their consent in 2021 - I was told in no uncertain terms that they wanted to get funding to get the 186a in place. 4 years later and tens of thousands of incidents of over harvesting having taken place. A tragedy that could have been stopped.