My Account
The Department of Conservation (DoC) is calling for submissions on the proposed Hākaimangō-Matiatia Marine Reserve, off the north-west coastline of Waiheke Island.
The proposal covers 2350 ha, spanning from Hakaimango Point to Matiatia Point.
The application was submitted by the Friends of the Hauraki Gulf and is dedicated to the memory of two former Mahurangi residents – the late Dr Roger Grace and the late Dr Bill Ballantine.
In its application, the Friends of the Hauraki Gulf states that despite Parliament’s recognition of the national significance of the Hauraki Gulf, its gazetting of the Hauraki Gulf as a marine park and its statutory commitment to ‘protect and enhance in perpetuity’ its environment in 2000, the gulf has had very little protection.
The group adds that DoC’s Conservation Management Strategy also recognises the threats to the gulf but, again, very little has been done to protect and enhance marine ecosystems and the ‘life-supporting capacity’ of the gulf, especially by government agencies and regional councils (including Auckland Council), despite obvious indications of environmental decline.
If successful, the new reserve would be the first in the Hauraki Gulf since Tawharanui was upgraded by the former Auckland Regional Council, from a marine protected area to a full marine reserve, in 2010.
Currently, less than half of one per cent of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is in protected no-take marine reserves.
This equates to a total of just 3961ha being fully protected in the park, which covers more than 1.2 million hectares.
Submissions on the proposal close on March 20.
