The ban will take effect from March 12 and will be enforced by fishery officers. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced the Government is imposing a two-year ban on taking shellfish from rockpools north of Auckland. Fisheries worked with the Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust, Jones said, to enact a traditional rāhui. “My decision excludes some of the species and areas requested by Ngāti Manuhiri where existing closures and restrictions apply.”All seaweed, invertebrate and shellfish were covered, he said, as well as sponges, starfish, anemone and sea cucumbers. “I decided to allow kina to continue to be taken as managing kina barrens is a priority for me.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 15, 2026 00:56 UTC