Update – 1 September 2026
New closing date confirmed and details of community meeting announced
Fisheries New Zealand announced on 10 August that this consultation would be extended (from the previous closing date of 21 August) and that an extra community meeting would be held.
We have now confirmed those details.
- The new closing date for submissions is 5pm on 16 October 2026.
- The extra community meeting will be held on 24 September.
Community meeting details
The Patuharakeke Rohe Moana Committee, Te Rerenga Parāoa Rohe Moana Committee, and Fisheries New Zealand will host this local community meeting to provide information about the applications and consultation process, followed by a question and answer session.
Date: Thursday 24 September 2026
Time: 6pm
Venue: The Celtic Barn
Address: 5 Saint Marys Road, Waipū.
This meeting is an opportunity for people to ask us questions about the proposals to help with their submissions.
Clarification about mātaitai reserves
A mātaitai reserve is not the same as a marine reserve. A mātaitai reserve recognises the special relationship between tāngata whenua and their traditional fishing grounds. It's a tool that allows for localised fisheries management.
Recreational fishing rules do not change when a mātaitai reserve is established. However, future rule changes can be proposed to support fisheries sustainability. Any proposals are publicly consulted and subject to approval by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
Your views sought
The Patuharakeke Rohe Moana Committee and Te Rerenga Parāoa Rohe Moana Committee have each applied for a mātaitai reserve under regulation 18 of the Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998. The applications are made on behalf of Ngāti Kahu, Parawhau, Ngāti Tu and Patuharakeke.
This is the first of 2 consultations to be held about the applications. For this consultation, we invite written submissions on the proposals from the local community.
The local community is defined as individuals who either:
- own land in proximity to the proposed mātaitai reserve, or
- have resided in proximity to the proposed reserve for a cumulative period of at least 3 months in each of the 3 consecutive years immediately prior to June 2025.
In addition, the Patuharakeke Rohe Moana Committee, Te Rerenga Parāoa Rohe Moana Committee, and Fisheries New Zealand invite the local community to attend a meeting to discuss the applications.
The proposed areas
Patuharakeke Mahinga Mātaitai Reserve: Approximately 115 square kilometres of fisheries waters along the coastline between the intersection of State Highway 1 and Springfield Road, near Oakleigh, south Whangārei, to the eastern end of Andersons Cove, Bream Tail, and includes Bream Bay, Northland.
Poupouwhenua Mahinga Mātaitai Reserve: Approximately 1 square kilometre of offshore fisheries waters near Marsden Point, Whangārei Harbour, adjoining the proposed Patuharakeke mātaitai reserve.
Consultation documents
Application for the Patuharakeke Mahinga Mātaitai Reserve [PDF, 28 MB]
Application for the Poupouwhenua Mahinga Mātaitai Reserve [PDF, 365 KB]
Map of proposed Patuharakeke Mahinga Mātaitai Reserve [PNG, 947 KB]
Map of proposed Poupouwhenua Mahinga Mātaitai Reserve [PNG, 938 KB]
Making your submission
Email your submission to FMSubmissions@mpi.govt.nz
We must get your submission by 5pm on 16 October 2026.
State in your submission which of the proposed mātaitai reserves, or both, your submission relates to.
While we prefer email, you can post your submission to:
Fisheries management – spatial allocations
Fisheries New Zealand
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140.
Public notices about this consultation
Public notices about the first meeting and the call for submissions from the local community were advertised in July.
Public notices about the extension to the consultation period and the extra community meeting are scheduled to appear in:
- The Northern Advocate (1 September, 21 September 2026)
- the Northland Age (3 September, 15 September 2026)
- and the Bream Bay News (3 September, 22 September 2026).
Local community meetings
The first local community meeting was held on 30 July at the Marsden Yacht and Boat Club.
The next public meeting will be held at 6pm on 24 September 2026 in The Celtic Barn, 5 Saint Marys Road, Waipū.
A second consultation is planned
After the local community consultation has closed, Fisheries New Zealand will hold a second consultation.
This will invite written submissions from persons having a fishing interest in the stock or stocks in the proposed areas.
The second consultation will be advertised in the same newspapers and on this website.
About mātaitai reserves
A mātaitai reserve is an identified traditional fishing ground which tangata whenua have a special relationship with.
Mātaitai reserves are limited to fisheries waters and do not include any land area. Mātaitai reserves do not change any existing arrangements for access to private land.
Mātaitai reserves do not affect private landowners’ land titles or their ability to exercise resource consents for such things as taking water or extracting gravel or sand. Resource consents are managed under the Resource Management Act 1991.
Find out more about mātaitai reserves
Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998 – NZ Legislation
Mātaitai reserves do not change the recreational fishing rules. However, the tangata tiaki/kaitiaki for a mātaitai reserve may propose changes to the rules at a later date. These are called mātaitai reserve bylaws. Any proposed bylaws will be consulted on separately with the public and relevant stakeholders. They need to be approved by the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.
Mātaitai reserves do not have an impact on whitebait or trout fishing.
Commercial fishing is banned in a mātaitai reserve.