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Legal protection for the Whangaparāoa Peninsula’s rockpools has finally arrived after a combination of community action and support from the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust.
However, local action group Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools (PWR) warns that the work is far from over as members turn their attention to ensuring the ban which comes into force March 12, is respected and enforced.
The protection was announced earlier this month after the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust applied for a two-year section 186a ban on harvesting of all shellfish and seaweed from rock pools along Auckland’s eastern coastline, from the Rodney Local Board area through to the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area.
However, not all the area requested was included in the ban, which now applies to; 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, 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. 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.
PWG organiser Mark Lenton is delighted at the announcement, which he has been working tirelessly for over the past 16 months.
“It is a step in the right direction, to protect Whangaparāoa Peninsula, the East Coast and the whole of New Zealand,” he says.
Lenton credits the efforts of the group and the community to getting the ban in place.
“This couldn’t have been done without this community, and as a long-term resident I’m so proud of what these people have done. We didn’t know one another 15 months ago and now it’s like we’ve known each other all our lives. It’s a huge community goal and success.”
It is also something PWR would like to see replicated across the country, especially as community groups in other areas are increasingly concerned that their shoreline will be pillaged once the ban is in place, he says.
“This was a great outcome, but it’s only the start. We would like to think people will respect the ban, but in fact, we’ve already seen evidence of people planning their next moves, where to go and discussing loopholes in the legislation, so we need to ramp up our efforts.
“We’ve got 15 core people that have been looking after this area for the past 15 months but we need to triple that number. We need to make it abundantly clear that this is not a place to be pillaged anymore, but that will take more people. If we get more people to help us, then we will be on our way to succeeding.”
The group is working with Fisheries NZ on a system of beach wardens to complement Fisheries officers as a separate pilot scheme to help with beach enforcement, Lenton says.
Army Bay resident Gary Setterfield has been part of PWR since it first formed.
”I’m really pleased with the ban as it’s so important that we protect the intertidal system. We’ve noticed that we’re not just losing all the sea life, there’s no birds, no oystercatchers. It’s affecting the whole ecosystem. The ban is a battle won, but the war is carrying on.”
Long time resident Adele Robson says it has been heartbreaking to see how many people are in the bay constantly taking cockles.
“I’m especially happy that it will be protected.”
She first started working with the group in August 2024 when she noticed the volume of people harvesting at the beach.
“I felt really powerless, but then I saw Mark’s post on the Facebook group, and joined. It’s been extremely rewarding to be able to do something about it.”
According to Fisheries NZ fisheries management director Emma Taylor, once the temporary closure takes effect, it will be enforced by fisheries officers.
Officers on patrol will be checking to make sure people are not breaking the rules. If they find non-compliance there are a range of options available including education and warnings, through to prosecution before the Court for more serious offending.
Penalties for breaking these rules include fines ranging from $5000 to $100,000 and infringement may also result in the seizure of items used in the offence, she says.
“We are preparing advice for the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries on options for infringements for breaching temporary closure rules for his consideration.”
Fisheries NZ is also reviewing options for managing longer-term measures for intertidal shellfish in the Auckland/Coromandel area and expects public consultation to commence in the coming months.
More information about the Hauraki Gulf closure can be found on the MPI website.
