The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana is one of New Zealand's most treasured, and most pressured, coastal environments. Overfishing, habitat loss and pollution have taken a serious toll on fish stocks and marine life over recent decades.

New Protections for the Gulf
In late 2025, Parliament enacted the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act, nearly tripling the Gulf's protected area from 6% to 18% through 19 new protected zones. Closer to home, the waters around Tiritiri Matangi Island are now a High Protection Area - no recreational or commercial fishing permitted.

The Rockpool Fight - A Local Win
Whangaparāoa's rock pools had been heavily stripped, with hundreds of people arriving daily with chisels and buckets, taking everything from shellfish to starfish and sea cucumbers.

Army Bay resident Mark Lenton spent over 16 months campaigning through his Protect Whangaparāoa Rockpools group, helping spark a nationwide conversation. From 12 March 2026, a two-year ban on harvesting all shellfish, seaweed and invertebrates came into force along the entire Peninsula coastline, extending 200 metres offshore, a major win for the community and local marine life.