New Zealand’s parliament has passed legislation that will create 19 new marine protected areas in the Hauraki Gulf, a measure that increases the portion of the marine park under protection from just over 6% to approximately 18%. The Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act is being described by officials as a “once-in-a-generation step” toward restoring the ecological health of the vital marine environment surrounding Auckland and the Coromandel peninsula. The law aims to safeguard a diverse range of habitats, from kelp forests to soft sediment ecosystems, and support the recovery of key species.
While the act represents the most significant increase in marine protection for the country in over a decade, it contains compromises that have drawn criticism from environmental advocates. The primary point of contention is a provision that allows for certain types of commercial fishing to continue within some of the newly established protected zones. This carve-out, specifically for commercial ring-net fishing, has led groups like the Hauraki Gulf Forum to argue that it undermines the integrity of the protections and could hinder long-term conservation goals. The debate highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing economic interests with environmental restoration efforts in the gulf, which has an estimated economic value of $100 billion.
A Multi-Tiered Protection Framework
The new legislation establishes a network of protections with varying levels of restriction, moving beyond a single designation to create a more nuanced management system. This framework includes the extension of two existing marine reserves, the creation of 12 High Protection Areas (HPAs), and the designation of five Seafloor Protection Areas (SPAs). This tiered approach is designed to protect different aspects of the marine ecosystem, from the seabed to the water column, while accommodating different uses. The selection of these areas was based on criteria that identified them as being at-risk, rare, or representative of important habitat types crucial for the gulf’s wide range of wildlife.
Three Levels of Safeguards
The updated protective measures are categorized into three distinct types:
- Marine Reserves: These are complete no-take zones where no fishing or extraction is permitted. The new law will significantly expand two of the gulf’s most important existing reserves, Te Whanganui-o-Hei (Cathedral Cove) and the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve, popularly known as Goat Island.
- High Protection Areas (HPAs): These zones are intended to protect and restore marine habitats while also providing for the customary practices of tangata whenua. While most fishing is restricted, these are the areas where the controversial exception for commercial ring-net fishing applies.
- Seafloor Protection Areas (SPAs): These five new zones are focused specifically on protecting habitats on the seabed from damaging activities like bottom trawling and dredging. However, they allow for fishing methods that do not contact the seafloor.
The Commercial Fishing Concession
The most debated element of the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act is the decision to permit some commercial fishing inside the new High Protection Areas. Critics, including the Hauraki Gulf Forum, have been explicit in their opposition, stating that commercial activity should not be allowed in areas designated for high protection. Forum co-chairs have argued that this exception undermines years of collaborative work to restore the gulf and compromises the core principles of marine conservation. They contend that allowing commercial extraction in these zones diminishes their protective status and makes it more difficult for New Zealand to meet its international commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for protecting 30% of the marine environment by 2030.
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has framed the legislation as a balance between the needs of communities, the economy, and the environment. The government’s position is that the law puts in place modern marine protection that can deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity while acknowledging the gulf’s economic significance. The allowance for limited ring-net fishing is presented as a necessary compromise to move the bill forward and secure a significant overall increase in protected waters. However, for many conservationists, this compromise threatens to set back restoration efforts by decades.
Ecological Restoration Goals
The primary objective of the expanded protections is to reverse the ecological decline of the Hauraki Gulf, an area home to an array of important habitats and a breeding ground for one-third of all seabird species in New Zealand. Officials anticipate that the new safeguards will lead to a tangible recovery of key marine species. Projections suggest that populations of snapper and rock lobster could rebound significantly in the coming decades as their habitats are secured. Healthier and more diverse kelp forests are expected to flourish without pressure from overgrazing by sea urchins, creating critical nurseries for a wide range of marine life.
The benefits are expected to extend beyond the water, with revitalized seabird colonies on offshore islands also anticipated as a result of healthier fish stocks. The protection of fragile seabed structures, such as dog cockle beds and corals, within the Seafloor Protection Areas is another crucial component of the restoration strategy. To ensure these goals are met, a new team of Department of Conservation Marine Rangers will be on the water to monitor compliance and track the effectiveness of the changes.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
The new law builds on a long history of marine conservation in the region, most notably celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary of New Zealand’s very first marine reserve. The Cape Rodney-Okakari Point (Goat Island) Marine Reserve, established in 1975, has provided invaluable lessons on how coastal ecosystems respond to protection. Research at Goat Island has demonstrated that protecting predator species like large snapper and lobster helps control sea urchin populations, which in turn prevents the overgrazing of essential kelp forests. Under the new act, the groundbreaking Goat Island reserve is set to nearly quadruple in size, while the Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove reserve will more than double.
While the legislation is a major step, proponents acknowledge it is only a starting point for restoring the mauri (life force) of the gulf. The law is expected to come into force before the end of 2025, but environmental advocates emphasize that threats remain. Animals living in the water column are still vulnerable, and the pace of environmental change in New Zealand’s waters may require conservation processes to be fast-tracked to ensure the long-term health and resilience of this treasured marine park.