From Saturday, October 25, new marine protection areas will take effect across the Hauraki Gulf.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) was responsible for managing and monitoring 19 new protected areas, located across the wider Gulf, including to the east of the Coromandel peninsula.

Kirsty Prior, operations manager marine, said that this summer DOC’s focus was on helping people understand the new rules and boundaries.

“We’ve got a new team of marine rangers, community rangers and a bunch of seasonal staff gearing up for summer.

“We’ll be heading to events, boat clubs, boats ramps and out on the water to chat about these new marine protections,” she said.

Prior said that DOC understands this was a significant change for many in the fishing community, and they would be working alongside fishers as everyone became familiar with the new boundaries and their implications.

The law is brand new, and she said it would take time for the practical changes to take effect, such as updates to electronic chart-plotting systems and the installation of physical markers.

“These protections are very important. They will take some pressure off crucial underwater habitats such as productive reefs and sensitive sea floors.

“We’re giving space for marine life to thrive, and over time this will help contribute to a healthier gulf with more fish for everyone.”

The DOC team and support vessels are based in Whitianga, Warkworth, Auckland’s North Shore and the CBD. 

Their role includes educating people on marine protection, undertaking compliance and monitoring changes in the underwater habitat.

Prior said the team was working to install signage at boat ramps and entry points, distributing protection area maps to local businesses such as fishing retailers, updating the DOC website, and had provided maps to chart-plotter providers to update their mapping systems.

New marine protections in the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui ā Toi. Map / Department of Conservation

“We expect updates to digital charts to happen when these manufacturers are able.

“The installation of signs and marker buoys will roll out progressively over summer and into early 2026.

“Our focus for now is on education and support. Compliance activity will gradually increase as people become more familiar with the new protections.

“This will include both on-the-water patrols and the use of drones and high zoom CCTV cameras to monitor activity in these protection areas.”

Prior said DOC had questions about what the new protections would mean for recreational fishers and for customary fishing.

“While some areas now have higher protection, the majority of the Gulf remains open for recreational fishing.”

High Protection Areas ban recreational and commercial fishing.

Limited commercial ring-net fishing was permitted in only two of the 12 HPAs for six months of the year, largely over winter. This would be reviewed after three years.

Customary non-commercial fishing was allowed in High Protection Areas.

Customary fishers required a written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki (a local guardian for a specific area) under the Customary Fishing regulations, and fishing must be for a customary purpose such as a hui or a tangi/funeral.

Prior said, in recent years, there had been very little customary fishing in the Gulf.

Seafloor Protection Areas ban fishing methods that have a high impact on the seafloor such as bottom-trawling and dredging, but allow for low-impact methods such as line fishing and diving for seafood.

“To be clear: rec fishers can line fish in SPAs.

“Over 94% of the Gulf remains open to recreational fishing.”

You can learn more about the marine protections on the DOC website: Hauraki Gulf marine protected areas

Fishers can find the latest maps and updates at www.doc.govt.nz/haurakigulfmarinepark.