08/10/2025
GREAT NEWS for Hauraki Gulf | Tīkapa Moana !!
Posted by Cath Handley, Chair of Waiheke Local Board
Tuesday 7 October 2025
Kia ora Koutou,
Today is a day to celebrate and to remember for all time!
This afternoon, after years of lobbying, advocacy and the hard mahi of hundreds of people, parliament finally passed the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill
In the waters around Waiheke Island and our other treasured islands, we will have several of the new twelve High Protection Areas in the greater Hauraki Gulf.
Closest to home are:
Rangitoto and Motutapu High Protection Area – on the north-west side of these islands.
Pakatoa and Tarahiki / S**g Island High Protection Area
The Noises High Protection Area – a large perimeter around The Noises just off our northern coastline.
Congratulations to all those who have worked relentlessly locally, regionally and nationally to achieve today’s result – that includes our MP Chlöe Swarbrick, Ngāti Pāoa Iwi Trust, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and other iwi throughout the Gulf individually and collectively, the Hauraki Gulf Forum, The Neureuter Family Trust for The Noises, the Waiheke Local Board, countless not-for-profits especially SeaChange whose spatial plan kick-started today’s major policy shift, Auckland Council, and in fact local government throughout the Hauraki Gulf – there are too many to name.
Today is a collective achievement.
Watch out for details to follow in media and on boaties’ websites. And let’s all celebrate a day that will help shift the narrative of
Tikapa Moana, the Hauraki Gulf, from one of decline and devastation to one of hope and restoration.
Well done all!
NB: Please note this legislation does not cover the proposed Hākaimangō-Matiatia (Northwest Waiheke) Marine Reserve, which is still under ministerial consideration (the longest running delay imaginable). That application was made under the Marine Reserves Act 1971 and follows a different pathway. There are several differences between a marine reserve and a HPA (High protection Area),one of which is that adaptive mechanisms can be adopted in a HPA to speed up recovery e.g. removal of kina from kina barrens without the need for a specialist scientific consent. Fishing and aquaculture, taking materials and many other restrictions apply equally to both.
Ngā mihi mahana: warmest best wishes
Cath
