Second notice of an application for a mātaitai reserve at southern Hokianga Harbour and adjoining waterways, Northland

Consultation background

Ngā tāngata kaitiaki ō Te Hikutū (Te Hikutū Hapū) applied for a mātaitai reserve (“Te Mātaitai ō Te Hikutū”) in the southern part of the Hokianga Harbour, Northland.

Fisheries New Zealand invited submissions from persons having a fishing interest in the stock or stocks in the proposed mātaitai reserve.

Te Hikutū Hapū and Fisheries New Zealand had previously consulted the local community on the application.

Find out about the first consultation with the local community (closed 13 May 2024)

What was proposed?

The proposed area included the fisheries waters within a portion of southern Hokianga Harbour extending approximately 500 metres from the mean high-water mark, between Koutu Point and the Whirinaki River mouth, and adjoining freshwater fisheries waters.

Te Hikutū Hapū amended the original proposed area following the first consultation with the local community.

Consultation documents

Map of proposed mātaitai [PDF, 2 MB]

Te Mātaitai ō Te Hikutū application [PDF, 9.3 MB]

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 also 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.

When a mātaitai reserve is established, the recreational fishing rules do not change. However, the Tangata Kaitiaki for a mātaitai reserve may propose changes to the rules at a later date.

Recommendations for bylaws are consulted on with the public and relevant stakeholders. They need to be approved by the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

Commercial fishing is prohibited in a mātaitai reserve but can be reinstated at the request of the Tangata Kaitiaki for the mātaitai reserve for specified species, quantity or time period.

Mātaitai reserves do not have an impact on whitebait or trout fishing.

Find out more about mātaitai reserves

Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998 – NZ Legislation