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.
Set netting, potting and bottom longlining are not allowed at Mokohīnau Islands SPA in addition to other SPA rules.
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.
The Mokohīnau Islands are managed by DOC as nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
Pokohinu/Burgess Island is the only place you can land in the Mokohīnau group without a permit. There are no visitor facilities on land. Check bags for pests before landing, then listen for red-crowned parakeets/kākāriki and visit the lighthouse.
The Mokohīnau Islands are 55 km northeast of Ōmaha and 25 km northwest of Aotea/Great Barrier. It can be reached by private boat or charter vessel.
Boats headed for the Mokohīnau Islands often launch from Ōmaha, Mangawhai or Aotea/Great Barrier Island.
View a map and co-ordinates of Mokohīnau High Protection Area and Seafloor Protection Area
Landing on the islands is not allowed, except for Pokohinu/Burgess Island.
This area 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.
The following location-specific activities are not allowed at Mokohīnau Islands Seafloor Protection Area in addition to other SPA rules:
- set netting
- potting
- bottom longlining.
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.
Surrounded by a large reef system, these waters provide habitat to a broad range of productive and diverse species with areas of anemones, kelp, sponges, and black coral.
Soft sediment provides habitat for tuna/eels including:
- silver conger eel/ngōiro
- gurnard/kumu-kumu
- opal fish/kohikohi.
Reef fish include:
- snapper/tāmure
- pink maomao/mata
- blue maomao/maomao
- wrasse/tangahangaha
- triplefins/kokopara
- stingray/whai.
Open ocean species include:
- kahawai
- kingfish/haku
- trevally/araara
- marlin/taketonga
- manta rays/whai rahi
- various shark species/mako
- marine Mammals such as Bryde's whales and dolphins.
During the warmer months, it’s common to see ngengero/bronze whaler and other mangō/sharks.
The Mokohīnau Islands are home to the highest diversity of seabird species within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park.
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.
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.
The Mokohīnau Islands were visited seasonally by Māori for fishing and birding expeditions including muttonbirding and to harvest oi/petrel chicks for food and oil.
Some of the islands were farmed for short periods, with lighthouse keepers staying on Pokohinu/Burgess Island from 1893 until 1980 when the light became fully automated.
Sitting at the entrance to The Hauraki Gulf, the lighthouse on Pokohinu/Burgess Island is the landfall light for vessels approaching Auckland from the north and northeast.
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).