Proposed temporary closure of Ōhiwa Harbour in the Bay of Plenty to harvesting mussels

Update: 25 September 2026

Minister's decision

Following consultation, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has imposed a temporary mussel closure at Ōhiwa Harbour, Bay of Plenty.

The closure will be in effect from 13 November 2026 to 12 November 2028.

The closure is called Te rāhui kuku ki tua o Kanawa.

The closure area covers approximately 0.1 square kilometres near the end of Harbour Road, Ōhope, and extends along approximately 650 metres of coastline.

Map of the closure [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Fisheries (Te rāhui kuku ki tua o Kanawa Temporary Closure) Notice 2026 [PDF, 75 KB]

Customary fisheries management areas, rules, and maps

Consultation background

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa requested a further 2-year closure over an area within Ōhiwa Harbour in the Bay of Plenty to the harvest of mussels, under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996.

The purpose of the closure was to allow juvenile mussels the opportunity to grow to maturity in the proposed closure area.

From 9 July to 21 August 2026, Fisheries New Zealand invited written submissions from anyone who had an interest in the species concerned or in the effects of fishing in the area concerned.

Closure request

Request from Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa for the Ōhiwa Harbour temporary closure [PDF, 164 KB]

Area boundary of the proposed closure

The proposed area was around 100,000 square metres (0.1 square kilometres) along approximately 650 metres of coastline near the end of Harbour Road, Ōhope.

Map of the proposed Ōhiwa Harbour temporary closure [PDF, 423 KB]

Public notices

Public notices about the call for submissions appeared in the Bay of Plenty Times, Whakātane Beacon, and Ōpotiki News on 9 and 10 July 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.

Find out more about temporary closures

A temporary closure in this area applies to recreation, commercial, and customary fishing.

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