This area features both a high protection area (HPA) and seafloor protection area (SPA). Make sure you know what you can and can’t do in each of these areas.
Limited commercial ring-net fishing is permitted for authorised operators in Kawau Bay HPA.
New marine protection
19 new marine protected areas will take effect in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana on 25 October 2025. These areas will contribute to a healthier Hauraki Gulf for future generations.
DOC’s focus this summer is to help people understand the new rules and boundaries. In coming months, boundaries will be updated in the Marine Mate app, on electronic charts and at water entry points.
Step back in time on a day trip to Kawau Island Historic Reserve to see Governor George Grey’s historic Mansion House and gardens. Explore easy tracks featuring Māori and colonial copper mining heritage sites.
Kawau Bay features both a High Protection Area and Seafloor Protection Area.
Make sure you know Hauraki Gulf protection area rules and how you can help preserve this precious ecosystem.
What you can and can’t do in this area.
Limited commercial ring-net fishing is permitted for authorised operators in Kawau Bay High Protection Area and Seafloor Protection Area.
Report illegal or suspicious activity
Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the protection areas. It is illegal. If you see people taking anything from the reserve, report it as soon as possible.
Call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224) or 0800 DOCHOT (0800 362 468).
It is an offence to pollute, litter, discharge fire arms and erect structures.
Report pests
Find-A-Pest lets you report potential pest species, including marine, plant, animal and fungal species.
If you come across something out of the ordinary, upload a picture to the app and a specialist will help identify it. If it's a biosecurity threat, this will be forwarded to Biosecurity New Zealand. If possible, take photos and record the location and name of the vessel.
Or call the Ministry for Primary Industries' Pest and Diseases hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
Prevent pests from spreading
Minimise the spread of pests on land and in water by thoroughly checking and cleaning your boat and gear. Keep your favourite spots pest-free for future generations by following these guidelines:
- clean your hull out of the water before you leave, including the propeller and anchor - see guidelines for hull cleaning
- clean all recreational and boating gear
- if leaving Auckland, check the marine pests website for biodiversity rules for other regions.
Check the marine pests website for more marine biosecurity information.
Kawau Bay is a relatively pristine and highly diverse coastal ecosystem.
You’ll find sponges and ’red stones’, (or rhodolith, a kind of coralline red algae) in the channels between the islands in the bay and these extend towards the mainland in some areas.
The protection area covers part of the ‘red stone’ bed that extends into Kawau Bay. Protection isimportant for creating shelter and food sources for marine organisms.
Martins Bay historically contained many horse mussel beds that may still be present. Horse mussels play an important role in filtering water and maintaining a healthy marine ecosytem.
Mussel beds, kelp forests and sponges, provide nursery habitats for young fishes - particularly snapper and scallops.
The area is known to have been a nursery area for mako/sharks.
The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park/Tīkapa Moana/Te Moananui-ā-Toi has a rich history of human settlement. It includes the earliest places settled by Māori.
The area has supported the physical and spiritual wellbeing of mana whenua for centuries. Mana whenua use tikanga/customs that care for and protect the environment when collecting kaimoana/seafood. Mana whenua is the iwi or hapū that has customary authority in an area.
Iwi with significant connection to the Kawau Bay area include Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Wai, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Hako, Ngāti Te Ata, Ngāti Rehua, Ngāti Whanaunga, Ngātiwai.
Protection areas
These protection areas began in 2025. They were initiated from the Government response to the Sea Change – Tai Timu Tai Pari Hauraki Gulf Marine Spatial Plan. Sea Change was developed collaboratively by tangata whenua, environmental groups, and the fishing, aquaculture and agriculture sectors of the Hauraki Gulf between 2013 to 2017.
Help high protection areas
- No recreational or commercial fishing.
- No dumping or discharge of waste, sewage or litter.
- Take no more than a handful of shell, sand or driftwood.
- Anchoring is allowed.
- Certain Māori customary practices are allowed.
Some protection areas have exceptions to these rules.
Help seafloor protection areas
- Only low impact fishing is allowed, such as line or spear fishing, harvesting by hand.
- No bottom trawling, dredging, Danish seining.
- No dumping or discharge of waste, sewage or litter.
- Take care when anchoring to avoid damage to the seafloor.
- Set netting, potting and bottom longlining are not allowed in parts of Mokohīnau Islands SPA.
DOC Customer Service Centre
| Phone: | 0800 275 362 |
| Email: | info@doc.govt.nz |
If you see any illegal or suspicious activity, contact the DOC emergency hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).