National promises new Waiheke marine reserve in recreational fishing policy

The National Party is promising to establish a new marine reserve off Waiheke Island and to expand an existing reserve off Goat Island if elected. 

The new Hākaimangō-Matiatia Marine Reserve will protect 23.5sq km off Waiheke Island. 

And, demonstrating some common ground with the Opportunity Party, National has promised to review bottom trawling “with an aim to increase protections from 32% to 50% of our EEZ [Exclusive Economic Zone] by 2040″, according to the party’s policy document. 

Opportunity has called for “an immediate end to bottom trawling in our most damaged inshore areas (like the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana), before phasing out the practice in stages” as one of its bottom lines. 

National’s Oceans and Fisheries spokeman Todd McClay and Conservation spokesperson Tama Potaka said the policy backed the health of the Hauraki Gulf, the right of recreational fishers to “continue the Kiwi tradition of catching a feed”, and provided for sustainable seafood to be caught for fish and chip shops and exports. 

“The New Zealand seafood industry’s economic output is around $6.4 billion, our recreational fishers generate around $1.7 billion of economic activity each year, and the annual worth of the boating and marine industry is around $3 billion. 

“All fishers, commercial and recreational, depend on the health of our waters, so that is an important part of our plan,” McClay said. 

In government, National and NZ First have butted heads over the conflicting priorities of recreational fishers, who have found support within National, and commercial fishers, whose interests have long been supported by NZ First. 

National promised to amend legislation the Government passed this term to strengthen protections for recreational fishers. The party’s policy promised to “ban commercial fishing in the Hauraki Gulf’s High Protection Areas by removing the exemptions for ringnet fishers”. These exemptions were included in the legislation that created the reserve last year. 

Potaka said the policy supported “custodianship” of the ocean. 

“We know the health of our ocean matters to every New Zealander. It is part of who we are, provides us food, recreation, wellbeing and a place for families and communities to connect,” Potaka said. 

McClay said commercial fisheries supported “thousands of jobs” in coastal communities and earned $2b in export revenue. 

“While some people catch their own fish, most New Zealanders enjoy seafood from their local supermarket or fish and chip shop. Ensuring the long-term sustainability of our fisheries is critical for both coastal communities and consumers,” McClay said. 

“In National’s first term of government, we passed the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, the most significant expansion of marine protection in more than a decade. 

“We also delivered five new marine reserves as part of the Southeast Marine Protection Network, Te Au Roao Te Rakihouia protecting 308 square kilometres of unique marine habitat and sea life,” he said. 

National’s policy summary: 

• Establish a new marine reserve off Waiheke Island and further expand the size of Goat Island/Te Hāwere-a-Maki Marine Reserve. 
• Support recreational fishers – ensuring fishers have a say in fishing reforms, ruling out a recreational fishing licence and preventing the commercial sale of marlin. 
• Ban commercial fishing in Hauraki Gulf’s high protection areas and review designated trawl corridors. 
• A $20 million Fish Tech Innovation Fund 
• Keep the ban on shellfish and marine species from rockpools 
• Increase the number of honorary fisheries officers to 200. 
• Increase penalties and infringements for exceeding catch limits