Tawharanui Marine Reserve Application

Image of kelp forest and fish school

Submissions closed on Sunday 15 July. These have been summarised in a report to the Minister of Conservation who will make the final decision on whether or not to grant marine reserve status.

The Tawharanui Marine Park adjoins the northern side of Tawharanui Regional Park. It was established in 1981 and covers the areas from Mean High Water Mark to half a nautical mile seaward, for a length of three kilometres.

As a marine park the area is a "no take" zone of approximately 395 hectares, administered by the Ministry of Fisheries.

Since 1995 the Auckland Regional Council has explored the possibility of establishing a marine reserve at Tawharanui.

A full version of the application along with a supporting fact sheet can be found below.

Current proposal
Effects and benefits
Where to from here
Further information

Proposal

The proposal includes straightening the seaward boundary of the protected area at Tawharanui slightly increasing the protected area to approximately 400 hectares. Importantly, the popular recreational fishing spot, Cigar Reef, will be outside the proposed marine reserve boundary.

The ARC’s application also proposes the establishment of a marine reserve committee to assist DoC with the management of the marine reserve. This committee would be a means for Tangata Whenua, ARC and other key stakeholders to have a say in the ongoing management of the marine reserve.

Effects and benefits

This change at Tawharanui will mean that:

• the existing restrictions on taking or disturbing of marine life within the Marine Park will continue to apply within the boundaries of the marine reserve
• the marine reserve boundary will be straightened to enable better clarity for users and managers of the reserve and adjacent areas
• rules affecting use of the Marine Reserve will be clearer and more widely understood than with the existing Marine Park; given that rules are consistent from one marine reserve to another but can differ between marine parks
• the Marine Reserve will be managed by the same body (DoC) as the nearby Cape Rodney Okakari Point Marine Reserve, rather than under two separate authorities as is currently the case
• a marine reserve committee will provide ongoing assistance and input from key stakeholders into the management of the marine reserve.

The cumulative effect of these would be to enhance the protection of the area and the opportunities for the scientific study of marine life due to the improved status, recognition, management capacity, visibility and enforcement of the protected area.

Where to from here?

The ARC lodged its application with the Director General of Conservation in April 2007.

Once lodged, the application is subject to the process clearly outlined in the Marine Reserves Act 1971. The ARC’s application has been publicly notified and the public have had a two-month period to make submissions on it to the Department of Conservation.

The Department of Conservation is currently preparing a report on the application, including any submissions and responses from the applicant, to pass on to the Minister of Conservation. The Minister will make the final decision on whether or not to grant marine reserve status.

Further information

Here you can view a copy of the application, a fact sheet and a map of the proposed marine reserve:

For further information on the Tawharanui Marine Reserve proposal please contact:

Project Leader Andrew White 09 366 2000 ext 8437 or andrew.white@arc.govt.nz or Communications Advisor Jo Davidson 09 366 2000 ext 8071 or jo.davidson@arc.govt.nz.