A two-year extension to the fishing closure covering Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru Bay, and the surrounding Rehuotane Ki Tai area starts this Friday, 26 June 2026. If you’re heading out on the water, here is what you need to know.
The closure spans 73.6 square kilometres, running from Middle Gable (just north of Tutukaka Head) down to Paparoa (north of Parauwanui Beach), and goes out about three nautical miles. It also covers the Ngunguru and Horahora rivers and their estuaries.
From Friday, you cannot take cockles, garfish, mussels, octopus, pāua, pipi, packhorse rock lobster, rock oysters, sea cucumbers, seahorses, starfish, tuatua, or various crabs and sea snails. Spiny rock lobster isn’t included in this specific rule because it is already managed under separate restrictions.
Net fishing is also banned in Tutukaka Harbour and both the Ngunguru and Horahora rivers/estuaries. You can still use standard landing nets to secure fish you’ve caught on a line. Trawl and Danish seine nets aren’t affected by this specific notice because they are already banned from these areas anyway.
If you are heading up the Tutukaka Coast this weekend, make sure to jump on the Ministry for Primary Industries website to check out the full closure map before you head out.
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