June 24, 2024
Action welcome on Hauraki Gulf plan
![Watermark](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-4.png)
![](https://waateanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mntBLOCKSTORAGEhomemasternews_importersrcTipaka-Moana-Hauraki-Gulf.-Photo-by-Forest-and-Bird.jpg_1_Pub.jpg)
Forest & Bird’s Hauraki Gulf lead coordinator says while the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill offers a long term plan for recovery, action is needed to restore the mana of that moana.
Parliament’s environment committee has endorsed the bill, which will create 19 new protection areas in Tīkapa Moana Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
Bianca Ranson says it provides an opportunity for mana whenua iwi to have more of a say in future management, which they have been pushing for.
“We have a lot of examples out there, and especially in terms of traditional practices that are really needed urgently for the leadership and the way forward for restoring the mauri of Tikapa. So I think there’s lots of positives in this bill,” she says.
What’s missing is an end to bottom trawling as well as resources to eliminate the caulerpa seaweed which is spreading rapidly through the gulf.