Pursuant to Regulation 23 of the Fisheries (Kaimoana Customary Fishing) Regulations 1998, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries gives the following notice.

Notice

1. Title

This notice is the Fisheries (Declaration of Te Mātaitai ō Te Hikutū) Notice 2025.

2. Commencement

This notice comes into force on the date specified in the Fisheries (Notification of Te Mātaitai ō Te Hikutū and Appointment of Tāngata Kaitiaki/Tiaki) Notice 2025 (Notice No. MPI 1971).

3. Declaration of Mātaitai Reserve

(1) This notice declares that the area specified in clause 3(3) is a mātaitai reserve.

(2) The mātaitai reserve is to be known as Te Mātaitai ō Te Hikutū.

(3) The area of the mātaitai reserve is the area of New Zealand fisheries waters within the following lines:

1. Starting at a point on the mean high-water mark east of Koutu Point at 35°28.255′S and 173°24.903′E; then
2. Proceeding in a straight line in a north-westerly direction for approximately 550 metres to a point offshore at 35°28.017′S and 173°24.681′E; then
3. Proceeding in a generally northerly direction, along a line every point of which is approximately 500 metres offshore from the mean high-water mark to an offshore point at Te Herehere (west of the Whirinaki River mouth) at 35°25.072′S and 173°25.048′E; then
4. Proceeding in a straight line in north-easterly direction for approximately 2.5km to Whekihana (north-east of the Whirinaki River mouth) at 35°24.422′S and 173°26.501′E; then
5. Proceeding in a straight line for approximately 8.3km in a south-easterly direction to an unnamed road/track near the boundary of the Whirinaki River catchment at 35°28.163′S and 173°29.577′E; then
6. Proceeding along a line in a generally southerly, then south-easterly, then south-westerly, then north-westerly direction, along the boundary of the Whirinaki River catchment, to the intersection with an unnamed river catchment that discharges south of Koutu Boulders; then
7. Proceeding in a generally westerly direction along the southern boundary of the unnamed river catchment that discharges south of Koutu Boulders to the starting point.

Dated at Wellington this 1st day of December 2025.

Hon SHANE JONES, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.