The rockpools at Waiwera have been a constant source of fascination and learning for families and children. These natural habitats allow us to connect with the diverse marine world and understand the delicate ecosystem that exists within our reach. 

Since 12 March 2026, a two-year closure under section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996, requested by Ngāti Manuhiri, has banned the taking of seaweed and invertebrates (other than kina) from the Whangaparāoa Peninsula shoreline out to 200 metres. The closure stops at the Ōrewa River. Ōrewa, Hatfields Beach and Waiwera, immediately to the north, were outside that closure.

Since then, gathering has moved north. Groups of five to more than ten people now work the Waiwera rockpools at low tide every day, and pools that were full of life are visibly depleted. Fisheries New Zealand and the Minister have both acknowledged the risk of harvesting shifting to beaches that remain open.

New Auckland intertidal rules from 1 November 2026 are a welcome step, but they still allow some harvest. The same habitat under the same pressure deserves the same protection that applies a few kilometres south. Waiwera faces more to come: the planned geothermal pools are expected to bring around 350,000 visitors a year from 2028.

We ask the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to work with Ngāti Manuhiri, as kaitiaki, to secure equivalent protection for the intertidal habitats of Ōrewa, Hatfields Beach and Waiwera.

Please sign to give these rockpools a chance to recover.