Under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries gives the following notice.

Notice

1. Title

This notice is the Fisheries (Rehuotane Ki Tai Temporary Closure and Method Prohibition) Notice 2026.

2. Commencement

This notice comes into force on 26 June 2026.

3. Expiry of this notice

This notice expires on the close of 25 June 2028.

4. Interpretation

In this notice:

Cockle means a shellfish of the species Chione (Austrovenus) stutchburyi

Crab means a shellfish of the species Ovalipes catharus (paddle crab), Leptograpsus variegatus (purple rock crab), Guinusia chabrus (red rock crab), Hemigrapsus sexdentatus (common rock crab), Ovalipes molleri (swimming crab), Liocarcinus corrugatus (dwarf swimming crab), Nectocarcinus antarcticus (red swimming crab) and Pagurus novizealandiae (hermit crab)

Garfish means a fish of the species Hyporhamphus ihi (also known as piper)

Horahora River means New Zealand fisheries waters lying inside a straight line drawn from:

1. the northern entrance of Horahora estuary (at 35°39.992′S and 174°30.418′E); to
2. the southern entrance of Horahora estuary (at 35°40.044′S and 174°30.548′E); and
3. a point at 35°40.081′S and 174°27.263′E to a point at 35°40.070′S and 174°27.263′E.

Mussel means a shellfish of the species Perna canaliculus (green-lipped mussel), Mytilus galloprovincialis (blue mussel), and Hyridella menziesii or Atrina zelandica (horse mussel)

Net means a net or part of a net used, or capable of being used, to take fish; but does not include a bob, ring pot, or whitebait net

Ngunguru River means New Zealand fisheries waters lying inside a straight line drawn from:

1. the northern entrance of Ngunguru estuary (at 35°38.121′S and 174°31.440′E); to
2. the southern entrance of Ngunguru estuary (at 35°37.900′S and 174°30.800′E); and
3. a point at 35°38.714′S and 174°25.217′E to a point at 35°38.714′E and 174°25.207′E.

Octopus means a shellfish of the species Octopus maorum

Pāua means a shellfish of the species Haliotis iris (black foot) and Haliotis australis (yellow foot)

Pipi means a shellfish of the species Paphies australis

Packhorse rock lobster means a crustacean of the species Sagmariasus verreauxi (formerly Jasus verreauxi);

Rehuotane Ki Tai means all those New Zealand fisheries waters within the following lines –

1. starting at a point on the mean high-water mark north of Middle Gable at 35°35.775′S and 174°32.227′E; then
2. proceeding in a straight line due east for approximately 3 nautical miles to a point offshore at 35°35.775′S and 174°36.250′E; then
3. proceeding in a straight line for approximately 5.6 nautical miles in a south south-westerly direction to a point approximately 3 nautical miles offshore due east of Paparoa at 35°41.141′S and 174°34.315′E; then
4. proceeding in a straight line due west for approximately 3 nautical miles to a point on the mean high-water mark at Paparoa at 35°41.141′S and 174°30.632′E; then
5. proceeding in a generally northerly direction along the mean high-water mark until the mouth of the Horahora River; then
6. proceeding in a generally westerly direction along the southern bank of the Horahora River to a point at 35°40.081′S and 174°27.263′E; then
7. proceeding in a straight line across the Horahora River to a point on the northern bank of the Horahora River to a point at 35°40.070′S and 174°27.263′E; then
8. proceeding in a generally easterly direction along the northern bank of the Horahora River to the mean high-water mark of the coastline; then
9. proceeding in a generally northerly direction along the mean high-water mark until the mouth of the Ngunguru River; then
10. proceeding in a generally westerly direction along the southern bank of the Ngunguru River to a point at 35°38.714′S and 174°25.217′E; then
11. proceeding in a straight line across the Ngunguru River to a point on the northern bank of the Ngunguru River at 35°38.714′S and 174°25.207′E; then
12. proceeding in a generally easterly direction along the northern bank of the Ngunguru River to the mean high-water mark of the coastline; then
13. proceeding in a generally northerly direction along the mean high-water mark to the starting point.

Rock oyster means a shellfish of the species Saccostrea glomerata

Sea cucumber means an echinoderm of the genus Australostichopus

Sea horse means a fish of the genus Hippocampus

Sea snail means a mollusc of the species Turbo smaragdus (cat’s eye snail), Cookia sulcate (Cooks Turban snail), Charonia lampas rubicunda (trumpet shell snail), Melagraphia aethiops, Diloma zelandica, Diloma arida, Diloma subrostrate, Diloma bicanaliculata (top shell snails) and Thais orbita, Lepsiella scobina scobina, Haustrum haustorium, Cominella adspersa, Cominella maculosa, Cominella glandiformis, Penion dilatatus, Struthiolaria papulose (whelks).

Starfish means an echinoderm of the class Asteroidea and Ophiuroidea

Tuatua means a shellfish of the species Paphies subtriangulata

5. Rehuotane Ki Tai is closed in respect to cockle, crab, garfish, mussel, octopus, pāua, pipi, packhorse rock lobster, rock oyster, sea cucumber, sea horse, sea snail, starfish and tuatua.

(1) A person must not take any cockle, crab, garfish, mussel, octopus, pāua, pipi, packhorse rock lobster, rock oyster, sea cucumber, sea horse, sea snail, starfish or tuatua from Rehuotane Ki Tai.

(2) Clause 5(1) does not apply to the take of cockle and pipi in the Ngunguru Estuary, to the extent that no-take of those species is already provided for in the Fisheries (Ngunguru Estuary Cockle and Pipi Harvest Closure) Notice 2015 (Notice No. MPI 566).

6. Fishing with nets is prohibited within Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru River, and Horahora River.

(1) The use of nets while fishing is prohibited within Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru River and Horahora River.

(2) Clause 6(1) does not apply to Danish seine net and trawl net to the extent that these fishing methods are already prohibited in the Fisheries (Auckland and Kermadec Areas Commercial Fishing) Regulations 1986 and Fisheries (Commercial Fishing Regulations) 2001.

(3) Clause 6(1) does not apply to the use by a person of a landing net to secure fish that have been lawfully taken.

Dated this 15th day of June 2026.

Hon SHANE JONES, Minister for Oceans and Fisheries.