This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act, legislation that recognised the Gulf as a national taonga.
In June 2024, the Environment Committee, made up of members from across all major parties reported back with unanimous support for the Hauraki Gulf / Tikapa Moana Marine Protection Bill. Yet nearly a year later, its final reading has again been delayed.
Today, only 0.3% of its waters are under full marine protection. This is a devastating failure. The science is clear: the Hauraki Gulf is on the brink of ecological collapse, threatening the future of precious species such as kororā little blue penguin, giant manta ray, and tāmure snapper.
Every week that passes without action allows further damage to accumulate, jeopardising the very ecosystems and species this legislation is designed to protect.
Our moment to act is now. It’s time to tell Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka how much you care about Tīkapa Moana the Hauraki Gulf.