Conservationists divided on Waiheke Island marine reserve proposal

Friday, 18 March 2022

A proposal for a new marine reserve off Waiheke Island hopes to make the area a ‘jewel in the crown’ of the Hauraki Gulf, but some conservationists argue the scale isn’t wide enough.

The Hākaimangō-Matiiatia Marine Reserve would cover a 2350ha area just northwest of the island and reduce stress on an area “severely impacted” by over-fishing and pollution, according to the proposal currently up for public consultation through the Department of Conservation.

Friends of the Hauraki Gulf (FOTHG), who submitted the proposal, say the idea will create something tangible and meaningful to protect the Hauraki Gulf.

The proposed marine reserve would be at the northwest end of Waiheke Island and cover 2350ha.

The aim is that the reserve would allow snapper, crayfish, marine mammals and hundreds of other species to thrive there.

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But Sam Woolford, a spokesman for fishing lobby group LegaSea, said while he 100 per cent agreed with the sentiment, the marine reserve would be a lot of work for an outcome that wouldn’t have the impact that was needed.

The Hauraki Gulf ecosystem as a whole was struggling, he said, and focusing in on one area would just move the pressure somewhere else, without addressing the problems.

“We have got to get rid of destructive fishing techniques, of bottom trawling – we are kneecapping future generations by destroying the productivity of the gulf.”

There are currently five no-take marine reserves in the Hauraki Gulf – these make up less than one per cent of the total gulf.

Woolford said they had the same concerns as FOTGH, but with little time on the clock to make changes, the scale of those changes needed to be bigger.

FOTGH chairman Mike Lee said experts had been sounding the alarm for years that the Hauraki Gulf was under stress.

The group took the steps of forming a proposal because, despite years of talk from taxpayer funded agencies, nothing meaningful had been done to turn this sad state of affairs around, he said.

The public can have their say on the proposal, with submissions closing on March 20.

The area hosts a variety of habitats, including kelp forests and rocky reef and is home to vital fish species, marine mammals and seabirds, according to the proposal.

“We are confident over time the Hākaimangō-Matiatia Marine Reserve will become a biological treasure house.”

Ngāti Pāoa has been concerned about the lack of kaimoana around Waiheke Island for many years. After a hui and discussion with the community, the iwi took matters into their own hands and lay down a rāhui.

Ngāti Pāoa spokesperson Herearoha Skipper previously told Stuff the species couldn’t be expected to magically reappear in years to come, unless something changes.

On top of the issues around fishing, there were also issues with sediment running into kaimoana beds, climate change and an increasing population in the country, which resulted in more mouths to feed, she said.