27393 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries

27393 (2025). Teanau Tuiono to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Further to oral question No. 7 on May 15, How does the Minister reconcile, if at all, describing the Hauraki Gulf as a “mud-stained bottom” with evidence from State of the Gulf reports about an ecosystem on the “brink of collapse”, where kina barrens flourish, crayfish have become “functionally extinct”, and fish numbers are in decline. and if so how and if not why not?

Hon Shane Jones: I am advised that State of our Gulf reports have documented significant sedimentation issues within the Hauraki Gulf. Typically, bottom trawling occurs over flat areas of seafloor and often these are predominantly muddy or sandy areas. Where there is evidence of sustainability concerns for fish stocks, I have taken action, including implementing a full closure of the inner Gulf to commercial and recreational spiny rock lobster fishing and introducing other measures to mitigate urchin barrens.