The Minister for Oceans and Fisheries has imposed a two-year closure over part of the mussel/kuku beds in Ōhiwa Harbour from 13 November 2024 to 12 November 2026.
The closure was requested by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and is called Te rāhui kuku ki tua o Kanawa. The temporary closure area is approximately 0.1 square kilometres, along approximately 650 metres of coastline off the Port Ōhope Reserve and boat ramp at the eastern end of the Ōhope Spit. The closure is pursuant to section 186A of the Fisheries Act 1996.
In December 2023 Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa had placed a rāhui on the mussel beds along Ōhope Spit and this has now been confirmed by the Minister. No green lipped mussels (kūtai, kuku) can be taken from the area east of the boat ramp. This will assist the kūtai restoration project led by the Ōhiwa Harbour Implementation Forum which has already shown great success.
