The health of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park depends on the vast, unprotected high seas where local species like the Oceanic Manta Ray feed. Because migratory wildlife doesn't recognise borders, ratifying the High Seas Treaty is essential for New Zealand to turn global intentions into local protection, ensuring our coastal restoration is supported by a healthy, connected ocean.
How would you react to finding a leopard seal lazing on your local marina pier or a seal pup out for a day on the town at the local KFC?
Matt Rayner explains that allowing some fishing in proposed High Protection Areas overlooks the complex interdependencies in Gulf ecosystems.
The Hauraki Gulf Forum (the Forum) welcomes news that any progress on the Fisheries Amendment Bill will be delayed until after the election.
“It demonstrates that the concerns regarding the Bill have been heard, and we can focus on a more considered approach to fisheries reform,” says Nicola MacDonald Co-Chair of the Forum.
“We have consistently advocated for reform that supports long-term ocean health and resilient fish stocks. This decision creates some space to progress this work properly, she said.”
When addressing the Primary Production Committee in May, the Forum said the Bill did not adequately address the most pressing challenges facing marine ecosystems and risked rebalancing fisheries management away from long-term sustainability outcomes.
Instead, the Forum recommended the Bill be rejected in favour of a comprehensive review of the Fisheries Act 1996, grounded in an ecosystem-based approach.
“Resilient fish stocks depend on healthy functioning ecosystems where marine life exists in balance. The effects of overfishing are being keenly felt in the Marine Park where ecosystems are tipping out of balance,” says Co-Chair Warren Maher.
The Forum emphasises that current fisheries management tools are often reactive, with closures and interventions occurring only after significant depletion has occurred. The submission also highlighted that ongoing pressures such as overfishing, habitat degradation, climate change, and cumulative impacts are continuing to undermine ecosystem health in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
“We owe it to all New Zealanders to design a fisheries management system that is fit for the future, that restores ecological balance and supports abundance. We can get it right if we take the time to get clear on a shared direction that balances a range of views,” concluded Ms Rata-MacDonald.
The Forum’s submission on the Bill can be read online l1nq.com/6ronqge
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Councillor Victoria Short - Albany Ward Robyn Sinclair - councillor for Thames Auckland Council Waikato Regional Council Councillor Sarah Paterson-Hamlin Charmaine Bailie Bianca Ranson Christine Fletcher Beth Rose ... See MoreSee Less
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Why dont we just start by nationalising the inshore fishery
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🌊 Caring for the high seas isn’t separate from caring for home. It’s part of the same story: one ocean, connected from the deepest waters to our beloved sheltered bays.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐢 𝐆𝐮𝐥𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐲.
🐦 Long-distance travellers – seabirds, whales, manta rays and other migratory fish – don’t recognise borders. Drawn to the nutrient-rich waters of Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi to feed and find seasonal shelter, their safe onward journey depends on global collaboration, and that’s where the High Seas Treaty comes in.
Read the full article: gulfjournal.org.nz/2026/04/hauraki-to-the-high-seas/
🎥 Lydia Green Manta Watch New Zealand
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#oceanprotection #30x30 #HighSeasTreaty ... See MoreSee Less
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Sooooo good!
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This week, Hauraki Gulf Forum Tīkapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-Toi headed to Motutapu Island for its first hui of 2026 - unifying members for a bold new term.
The journey took the Forum through the adjacent recently-designated High Protection Area where a last minute amendment to the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025 enabled ring-net commercial fishing. Laurie Beamish shared his whakaaro on the protections with the Forum, and kōrero flowed.
The hui took place at the historic Reid Homestead, having been welcomed onto Motutapu by mana whenua, Ngai Tai ki Tamaki. The motu is significant to the Forum's history and during the hui, Nicola MacDonald paid tribute to the Motutapu Accord at its near-35th anniversary. Signed by iwi of Te Moananui-ā-Toi in 1992, The Accord asserted the importance of upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the management of the Hauraki Gulf - Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-a-Toi.
The Forum re-elected Councillor (Cr) Warren Maher of Waikato Regional Council as its second Co-Chair to work alongside Tangata Whenua Co-Chair Nicola Rata-MacDonald. The move marks significant confidence in the co-governance pairing.
"It is an exciting time for the Forum as we welcome new and returning members following the local government elections," says Co-Chair Nicola Rata-MacDonald. “I am heartened by the genuine passion and commitment we are seeing and I’m delighted to again be steering the waka alongside Cr Maher.”
Cr Warren Maher brings extensive business and governance experience to the role. A keen recreational fisher, he has served as President of the Tairua Pauanui Sports Fishing Club for 11 years and is a current board member of the NZ Sports Fishing Council.
“We have significant work ahead, not least to progress the restoration of the seafloor; bottom trawling must come to an end in the Marine Park. It is also concerning to see recent proposals for allowing undersized fish to be landed and sold by commercial fisheries as part of the Fisheries Amendment Bill. Just another step in the wrong direction in achieving sustainable fishing practices. There is strong alignment from those around the Forum table on these issues, and a renewed energy for the mahi ahead,” says Maher.
With seven new members appointed to the Forum following the Local Government elections in 2025, this was the first opportunity for members to connect and speak to their intentions.
The Forum signalled its commitment to workstreams aimed at reversing the decline of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park and will publish the eighth State of Our Gulf report. Pattle Delamore Partners Ltd (PDP) were introduced to Members having been selected through a competitive process to produce the report to assess environmental trends in the rohe and champion the voices of communities.
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Alex Rogers Councillor Victoria Short - Albany Ward Christine Fletcher Bianca Ranson Charmaine Bailie Robyn Sinclair Katina Conomos Beth Rose Department of Conservation - Auckland Auckland Council ... See MoreSee Less
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All tribes, iwis and hapus unite against greed and corruption
We’re loving the rogue entrant, Jono Ridler, for Te Ika o te Tau | Fish of the Year.
He is a hardworking contributor among the ecosystem of advocates who want to see an end to bottom trawling in our waters.
We’d still love to see the tāmure | snapper included in the top ten - as another hardworking contributor to a healthy moana.
(Nice to see the manaia in there though!) ... See MoreSee Less
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Ha ha - that’s awesome, go Jono!
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Seabirds are sentinel species; indicators of the health of the moana and ecosystems on which they depend.
Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi is an internationally important seabird hotspot. It is a big responsibility and the poor health of these kororā signals that we need to do better in the Marine Park. ... See MoreSee Less
Kororā chicks found malnourished and dead in Waiheke nesting boxes
www.1news.co.nz
Rising sea temperatures and over-fishing are causing major food shortages for the kororā, rescue centres are reporting severely underweight chicks and young adults in the Bay of Plenty and Hauraki Gu...0 CommentsComment on Facebook