Revitalising the Gulf Government action on the Sea Change Plan Māori Bay Coast Walk. Photo credit Brendan Bombaci. Government Strategy in response to the Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari – Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan June 2021 Pakiri Beach. The shellfish shuffle. Photo credit @New Zealand Story. Contents Ministers’ foreword 3 Executive summary 4 1. Roadmap to deliver a healthier Hauraki Gulf 7 2. A call to action for the Gulf 10 2.1 Why the Gulf is important 10 2.2 A taonga in trouble 12 2.3 Protecting mana whenua rights and interests 13 3. The Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari – Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan 14 3.1 Development of the Sea Change Plan 14 3.2 Sea Change Plan at a glance 15 4. Taking action: Government Response Strategy to the Sea Change Plan 16 4.1 What we want to achieve 16 4.2 Guiding principles 17 4.3 What we have considered 17 4.4 Connecting our actions with others – ki uta ki tai 18 4.5 What mana whenua and key stakeholders have told us 19 4.6 An ecosystem-based management approach 21 5. Elements of this Strategy 24 5.1 Fisheries management 24 5.2 Active habitat restoration 38 5.3 Aquaculture 46 5.4 Marine biosecurity 53 5.5 Marine protection 57 5.6 Protected species 68 5.7 Ahu Moana 76 5.8 Governance 84 6. Research, monitoring and reporting 91 7. Immediate actions to enhance the mauri of the Gulf 98 References 99 Glossary 102 Appendix 1: Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari Ministerial Advisory Committee 106 Appendix 2: Draft Hauraki Gulf Fisheries Plan 107 Appendix 3: Sea Change Plan’s outcomes for marine biosecurity and agency implementation activities 121 Appendix 4: Our marine protection proposals 122 1 Figures Figure 1: The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 recognises the national significance of the Gulf and establishes its boundaries (marine boundaries light blue) 11 Figure 2: We seek to reverse the decline and restore the balance of life-supporting ecosystems 12 Figure 3: Fisheries Management Area 1 (FMA 1) 26 Figure 4: Significant existing commercial fisheries restrictions in the Gulf 29 Figure 5: Quota management area for snapper off the east coast of the North Island (SNA 1) and boundaries for the three sub-stocks within SNA 1: East Northland, Hauraki Gulf and Bay of Plenty 33 Figure 6: Ecosystem services provided by shellfish 40 Figure 7: Aquaculture in the Coromandel – the contribution of marine farming to the Thames– Coromandel District in 2017 48 Figure 8: Locations of the protected area proposals that we will engage and consult on. 63 Figure 9: Proposed structure for identifying and progressing Ahu Moana initiatives 79 Figure 10: Implementation of all actions will inform the Monitoring and Reporting Framework 90 Figure 11: Adaptive management approach 94 Tables Table 1: Our roadmap for delivering a healthier Hauraki Gulf 7 Table 2: Proposed new areas for marine protection in the Gulf 62 Table 3: Assessing the achievement of Ahu Moana outcomes 81 2 Revitalising the Gulf – Government action on the Sea Change Plan Rangitoto at dawn. Photo credit © Chris Gin. Ministers’ foreword The protection of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique whenua and local communities to trial localised natural environment is a deeply held value of New management approaches to fisheries and conservation Zealanders. Sadly, one of the country’s most valued and through Ahu Moana pilots. intensively used coastal spaces, the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park / Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui-ā-Toi (the Gulf), is in We thank the Stakeholder Working Group for environmental decline. Action is needed now to revive developing the Sea Change Plan. We thank the this precious taonga. independent Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari Ministerial Advisory Committee for the advice that was Published in 2017, the Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari instrumental in shaping the Strategy. We also thank – Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan (the Sea Change mana whenua, stakeholders and interest groups for Plan) set a transformational path for the future of the their feedback on the Strategy. Gulf. We are committed to working with mana whenua,1 communities and local government to achieve its vision. We acknowledge the contributions of other Ministers in progressing Sea Change over many years and across A Government Strategy has been prepared in response governments – including Conservation Ministers Hon to the marine proposals in the Sea Change Plan, with Kiritapu Allan and Hon Eugenie Sage, Fisheries Minister actions to drive change and deliver a healthier Gulf. Hon Stuart Nash, and their predecessors. We also acknowledge the work of officials from the Department To support the recovery of species and habitats, we of Conservation and the Ministry for Primary Industries/ propose new marine protected areas in some of the Fisheries New Zealand in preparing the Strategy. most biodiverse regions in the Gulf, and complementary sustainable fisheries management measures, including The Government is committed to turning the tide on harvesting controls and restrictions on trawling. the declining health of the Gulf. We believe this Strategy sets out the necessary actions to restore the waiora We will also promote targeted habitat restoration, and mauri (health and life force) of this precious taonga a sustainable aquaculture industry, biosecurity (treasure), and to ensure New Zealanders can enjoy programmes and protected species management. one of the world’s most beautiful marine environments These measures will complement other government for generations to come. initiatives, including to reduce land-based sources of sediment and other contaminants currently polluting the Gulf. This integrated response will mirror the Hon David Parker interconnected ecosystem of the Gulf. Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Treaty partnership is critical to the restoration of the Gulf. Ongoing Treaty settlement processes and Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall customary practices will be respected in implementing Acting Minister of Conservation the Strategy’s actions. We will also work with mana 1 An iwi or hapū who exercise customary authority in an identified area. 3 Executive summary Mai te rangi ki te papa From the Skyfather to the Earthmother Ngā maunga ki te Moana From the mountains to the sea Tīkapa Moana – Te Moananui ā Toi The sea of Tīkapa – The great ocean of Toi Ngā poitō o te kupenga The floats of the net Nei rā te mihi ka tika We greet you Hei whakaruruhau taonga A shelter for our treasures Taitimu, Taipari The ebbing tide, the high tide Wai ora, Mauri ora Healthy waters, life force Ki uta, ki tai To the shores, to the sea Ki te whai ao, ki te ao mārama To the world, to the world of understanding The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park / Tīkapa Moana / Te • listened to advice from the Sea Change Tai Timu Tai Moananui-ā-Toi (the Gulf) is one of Aotearoa New Pari Ministerial Advisory Committee; Zealand’s most valued and intensively used coastal • listened to feedback from mana whenua;2 and spaces. Its mana (prestige) is embodied in its blue • listened to feedback from stakeholders of the Gulf. waters, forested islands, fertile catchments and extraordinary diversity of life, including its people. An integrated package of actions capable of addressing multiple pressures on the Gulf is critical to ensure The Gulf is badly degraded from human activities. Some successful restoration and protection. The Government, fish and seabird populations are declining, and nature’s regional councils and community groups are delicate balance is being upset. This has severe knock- undertaking significant work programmes to progress on effects for other species and habitats. Extractive the Sea Change Plan’s broader aspirations for the activities at sea, and activities on land that introduce Hauraki Gulf across land and freshwater. These include: sediment and pollutants, are also damaging marine and coastal environments. • the Essential Freshwater3 and the Productive and Sustainable Land Use4 packages that will In response to this decline, the Sea Change Stakeholder reduce land-based sources of sediment and other Working Group developed the 2017 Sea Change – Tai contaminants; Timu Tai Pari – Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan (the Sea • reform of the Resource Management Act 1991, to Change Plan). This includes over 180 recommendations strengthen the sustainable management of natural to improve the waiora (health) and mauri (life force) of resources and deliver better outcomes for the the Gulf from the land to its freshwater systems and environment; down to the sea. • Auckland Council and Waikato Regional Council This Strategy is the Government’s response to the Sea actions in response to various land and freshwater Change Plan’s marine proposals, including fisheries proposals in the Sea Change Plan, including habitat management, marine protection, habitat restoration restoration, managing sedimentation, improving and localised management. water quality and managing marine debris; and • projects led by mana whenua and community To develop an enduring set of actions, we: groups, such as the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei restoration project in Okahu Bay and the Taramaire • analysed the Sea Change Plan’s proposals, Stream restoration project. pragmatically identifying what could be taken forward and what could be further improved; 2 Customary authority exercised by iwi or hapū who exercise customary authority over an identified area. 3 A package of policies and regulations that the Government brought into force in 2020 to restore and protect the health of New Zealand’s waterways. 4 A package to promote land-use practices that deliver more value and improved environmental outcomes. 4 Revitalising the Gulf – Government action on the Sea Change Plan The Strategy complements these work programmes 5. Marine protection: establishing 11 new High by addressing the direct threats to the marine Protection Areas7 to protect and restore marine environment in the Gulf.