Taiapure - Local Fisheries

A taiapure is a local management tool established in an area that has customarily been of special significance to an iwi or hapü as a source of food or for spiritual or cultural reasons (s 174 of the Fisheries Act).

Taiapure can be established over any area of estuarine or coastal waters to make better provisions for rangatiratanga and for the rights secured under Article Two of the Treaty. Taiapure provisions are contained within sections 174-185 of the Fisheries Act 1996.

All fishing (including commercial fishing) can continue in a taiapure and this tool offers a way for Tängata Whenua to become involved in the management of both commercial and non-commercial fishing in their area.

Management of the Taiapure

Taiapure make provision for a management committee to be established. Committee members are nominated by Tängata Whenua and are approved by the Minister of Fisheries (s184 of the Fisheries Act 1996) and often include representatives from local fisheries stakeholders, including commercial and recreational fishers.

The management committee can provide advice and recommendations to the Minister of Fisheries for regulations (s 186, s 297, s 298, s 331 of the Fisheries Act for the conservation and management of the fish, aquatic life, or seaweed) to manage the fisheries in the taiapure area.

The regulations may relate to:
a) The species of fish, aquatic life, or seaweed that may be taken;
b) The quantity of each species that may be taken;
c) The dates or seasons that each species may be taken;
d) Size limits relating to each species to be taken;
e) The method by which each species may be taken;
f) The area or areas in which each species may be taken.

What should be contained in the application?

Justification for a taiapure - The area the application should clearly identify who the Tängata Whenua are and provide an account of the historical and contemporary nature and extent of their customary fishing. The application should also outline the customary significance of the area concerned, to the relevant iwi or hapü, as a source of food or for spiritual or cultural reasons.


Objectives - The application should state the management objectives for the taiapure. These objectives can be broken down into overall objectives and specific objectives.


Location and Boundaries - The application must clearly state the geographic location and boundaries of the proposed taiapure so that the public can easily identify the site. The boundaries should relate to the traditional relationship Tängata Whenua have with the area and also relate to “estuarine and littoral coastal waters”.

Estuarine is defined as being the waters of or belonging to an estuary or a tidal opening or inlet or a tidal mouth of a large river where the tide meets the stream. The littoral zone would comprise mostly shallow waters where the effect of tidal phenomena and currents is apparent. It would generally include those areas, which have been significantly rich in sea life. Reefs, islands and other landmarks might well play a part on interpreting whether a particular area fell within the littoral coastal area.


Description of other users and interest groups - The application should identify all the user and interest groups and detail their current involvement in the area. The proposal should identify the effect the taiapure is likely to have on these groups. It is also a good idea to outline any pre-application consultation that has been facilitated with these groups.