Crayfish numbers have fallen dramatically in the Hauraki Gulf. Credit: Shaun Nelson
Why it matters
The Hauraki Gulf is an incredible place, globally recognised for the diversity of its wildlife, including whales, dolphins, and seabirds.
This ocean world, right on our doorstep, supports the people of Auckland and beyond, providing well-being, recreation, and livelihoods. Its kaimoana has fed generations of kiwi families.
- Our precious Hauraki Gulf is in trouble
Waters that once shimmered with vast schools of trevally and snapper, and reefs that bristled with crayfish, are now overfished. Bottom trawling continues to destroy the seabed, leaving behind an underwater desert. Every time it rains, sewage, heavy metals and mud flow into the gulf from our cities, farms, and industries, making it unswimmable for humans and increasingly harmful to the wildlife that lives in it. With a rapidly growing population, we urgently need better ways of managing our impact on the marine environment.
We must act now to save the Hauraki Gulf
The good news is we already know what to do. There is a plan to restore the life and health of the Gulf. It’s called Sea Change - Tai Timu Tai Pari. Forest & Bird is going to make sure the Sea Change plan is turned into action, but we can’t do it alone. We need your voice.
The Sea Change plan is the first of its kind in New Zealand. It addresses the range of issues facing the Hauraki Gulf, including the need to improve water quality, better manage our fishing and protect our marine environment. It's the product of many voices, including mana whenua, fishing, conservation and community. But a plan sitting on a shelf won’t help the Hauraki Gulf.
Together, we must persuade the Government to put Sea Change into action, now.
What can you do
Join the campaign and share this page on social media using our #savethehaurakigulf hashtag.
Download and print our Sea Change poster or fliers to display at your local library, café, or community hotspot.
Join our Sea Change for the Hauraki Gulf campaign action group and volunteer with us to spread the word. Contact Melissa Irace on m.irace@forestandbird.org.nz for more information.
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