Aquaculture Settlement Areas
Under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Amendment Act 2011 (Amendment Act), powers have been given to the Minister responsible for Aquaculture to gazette space in the coastal marine area to create future settlement options. Space gazetted for this reason is called an Aquaculture Settlement Area.
Why are Aquaculture Settlement Areas established?
Notifying Aquaculture Settlement Areas mitigates the risk that private interests have first access to better aquaculture space while regional agreements are being negotiated with iwi.
What happens once space is gazetted?
Space gazetted as an ‘Aquaculture Settlement Area’ will still be subject to the resource consents process and any other regulatory requirements including, as appropriate, the undue adverse effects on fishing test before the space can be approved for aquaculture. Community participation is a core component of Resource Management Act processes.
Gazette notices are not a replacement for negotiated regional settlements. Gazette notices are a way of ensuring that some appropriate space has been notified so that negotiations between Crown and iwi can be meaningful. As the parties move towards concluding regional agreements and implementing the settlement, then exclusive rights can be provided for iwi to make applications to undertake aquaculture in these areas.
Questions and Answers on Aquaculture Settlement Areas (PDF 129kb)
Information on the initial Gazette notice
On 29 September 2011, 12 areas were included in a gazette notice for aquaculture settlement purposes. View the Gazette notice (begins on page 4211 of New Zealand Gazette, No. 147). The areas are located in Northland, Waikato (east), and Marlborough where immediate aquaculture development is expected.
On 10 May 2012 an additional two areas in the Marlborough Sounds were gazetted and one area in the Marlborough Sounds (Point Gore (South)) gazetted on 29 September 2011 was extended. View the Gazette notice (PDF 331kb).
On 18 October 2012, a single area in Akaroa Harbour was gazetted for aquaculture settlement purposes. View the Gazette notice (begins page 3664 of New Zealand Gazette No. 126).
| Region |
Site |
Area |
Date Notified |
| Northland |
Te Ngaire Bay |
10 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Northland |
Ahipara |
10 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Northland |
Hokianga Harbour |
12.5 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Northland |
Herekino Harbour |
12.5 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Waikato (east) |
Coromandel Marine Farm Zone |
60 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Waikato (east) |
Coromandel Harbour |
10 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Marlborough |
Port Gore - South |
23 ha (initially notified for 7.5 ha) |
29 September 2011 and
extended 10 May 2012 |
| Marlborough |
Port Underwood - Entrance |
20 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Marlborough |
Crosilles Harbour - Upper |
2 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Marlborough |
Crosilles Harbour - Oyster Bay |
3 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Marlborough |
Tory Channel - Oyster Bay |
3 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Marlborough |
Port Underwood - Upper |
2 ha |
29 September 2011 |
| Marlborough |
Tawero Point North |
8 ha |
10 May 2012 |
| Marlborough |
Tawero Point South |
20 ha |
10 May 2012 |
| Canterbury |
Lucas Bay |
20 ha |
18 October 2012 |
These Aquaculture Settlement Areas have been gazetted to allow the government to enter into meaningful negotiations with iwi. Gazetting space, however, does not confer any other rights or certainty the space will later become part of a regional agreement under the settlement.