Update – 23 June 2026
Minister's decision
Following this consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has imposed a temporary fisheries closure and net prohibition at Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru Bay, Ngunguru River, Horahora River and surrounding areas (Rehuotane Ki Tai).
Fisheries closure
The fisheries closure will be in effect from 26 June 2026 and includes 67 square kilometres of fisheries waters between Middle Gable, north of Tutukaka Head, Northland, and Paparoa, north of Parauwanui Beach, and offshore approximately 3 nautical miles. The temporary fisheries closure also includes Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru River, Horahora River, and estuaries.
The fisheries closure applies to cockle, garfish, mussel, octopus, pāua, pipi, packhorse rock lobster, rock oyster, sea cucumber, seahorse, starfish, tuatua, and several species of crab and sea snail.
The fisheries closure does not apply to:
- the taking of cockle or pipi within the Ngunguru Estuary, as this area is already closed. The temporary closure will, however, apply to the harvesting of cockle and pipi outside the Ngunguru Estuary, or
- marine pest species, including Asian paddle crabs.
The closure does not include spiny rock lobster, as a separate closure is already in place for this species.
Find out about the spiny rock lobster closure
Review of rock lobster fishery management measures for urchin barrens in northeastern New Zealand
Net prohibition
The fishing method prohibition will be in effect from 26 June 2026 and prohibits fishing with nets within Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru River, and Horahora River (including Ngunguru and Horahora estuaries).
This prohibition does not apply to Danish seine or trawl nets, as these fishing methods are already prohibited within these areas. The net prohibition also doesn't apply to the use of a landing net to secure fish.
Consultation background
The Whāngai Mokopuna Rohe Moana Tangata Kaitiaki (Ngāti Takapari, Te Waiariki, Ngāti Korora) requested a 2-year fisheries closure and net prohibition, under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996.
Consultation opened on 15 January and submissions closed at 5pm on Monday 2 March 2026.
Proposed fisheries closure
The proposed fisheries closure would prohibit the harvesting of cockle, garfish, mussel, octopus, pāua, pipi, rock lobster, rock oyster, sea cucumber, seahorse, starfish, tuatua, and various species of crab and sea snail.
The proposed area is called Rehuotane Ki Tai. It included the New Zealand fisheries waters between the Middle Gable, north of Tutukaka Head, Northland, and Paparoa, north of Parauwanui Beach, Northland, and offshore approximately 3 nautical miles. The area included the:
- Horahora River, upstream to near the intersection of Pataua North Road and Mangahui Road, and
- Ngunguru River, upstream to near the intersection of Ngunguru Road and Old Kiripaka Road.
The proposed closure area covered about 73.6 square kilometres.
In December 2025, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries announced new sustainability measures for the Northland spiny rock lobster fishery (CRA 1) and the national packhorse rock lobster fishery (PHC 1). These measures included area closures for spiny rock lobster fishing, as well as new recreational daily limits for packhorse rock lobster. Further information is on the consultation page.
Review of rock lobster fishery management measures for urchin barrens in northeastern New Zealand
Proposed net prohibition
The proposed net prohibition would ban the use of fishing nets within Tutukaka Harbour, the Ngunguru River, and the Horahora River, including the Ngunguru and Horahora estuaries.
Letter requesting the closure and net prohibition
Application for extension of section 186A temporary closure – Rehuotane Ki Tai [PDF, 404 KB]
Related document and map
Benthic habitat survey and trial kina removals in the Whāngai Mokopuna Rohe Moana [PDF, 6.7 MB]
Map of the proposed fisheries closure and net prohibition (Rehuotane Ki Tai) [PDF, 672 KB]
Public notice
A public notice about the call for submissions was scheduled to appear in the Northland Age and Northern Advocate on 15 January 2026.
Related information
Section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996 allows the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to temporarily close an area, or temporarily restrict or prohibit the use of any fishing method in respect of an area, if satisfied that the closure, restriction, or prohibition will recognise and provide for the use and management practices of tangata whenua in the exercise of non-commercial fishing rights.