First dedicated patrol boat launched to protect Mimiwhangata marine protected area

A new patrol boat was launched on 10 December to better protect the Mimiwhangata marine protected area.

The boat, named Te Mauri at the launch ceremony, is the first dedicated patrol boat protecting the area. Although patrols began last summer, until now they have relied on commercial vessels also used for other functions, such as water taxi and dive services.

Te Mauri is a former inflatable rescue boat purchased by Te Uri O Hikihiki Rāhui Tapu Steering Committee Chair Holly Hetaraka, who is also a warranted surveillance officer. Ownership of the boat will ultimately be transferred to Te Uri O Hikihiki hapū and Northland Regional Council will contract the hapū to use it for surveillance.

Mr Hetaraka says the boat will give the hapū the opportunity to do the things they want to on the water, including surveillance work, marine pest control, kina management, and upskilling and educating the next generation of kaitiaki with practical skipper training.

Te Uri O Hikihiki kaumatua Houpeke Piripi says the boat was a key step towards achieving the aspirations of kaumatua and kuia who led the initial push to establish the Mimiwhangata rāhui tapu marine protected area. The area gained legal protection under the Proposed Regional Plan for Northland in November 2023 after hapū took their concerns about the impact of overfishing to the Environment Court.

"We’ve finally got our first boat to really start to make a positive impact on the environment. We can monitor for people who aren’t aware there’s a rāhui tapu there, monitor the diversity of the moana and watch it grow with our efforts to bring species back into the area, take our rangatahi and whānau out there to show them what we’re doing … there are so many aspects to having this boat," he says.

Northland Regional Council Te Raki Councillor Arama Morunga says the dedication and local knowledge of hapū have been invaluable in successfully implementing and managing protection for the Mimiwhangata rāhui tapu marine protected area.

"Hapū have led protection of these areas from the start." "We collaborate on everything, from public engagement to compliance surveillance and ecological monitoring." "It’s a real partnership and a great example of council’s Tāiki ē strategy working in practice," he says.

Council partners with hapū to get specially recruited and trained warranted officers patrolling the areas to monitor compliance.

"The warranted officers have extensive local knowledge, which has been key to the successful development of the compliance programme," says Northland Regional Council’s Kaiwhakahaere Moana Ora Nicola Hartwell, who manages the council’s role in the marine protected areas.

Between October 2024 and June 2025, which covers the popular on-water summer and autumn seasons, officers approached over 165 vessels in the Mimiwhangata Rāhui Tapu marine protected area. Twenty-four of these were seen fishing and were issued with cease and desist notices.

Infringement fines for breaching the rules have recently been increased under the Resource Management Act, with infringement fines now set at $1000 for an individual or $2000 for a company.

To report a breach of the no-fishing rules, view the boundaries, or find further information about the regulations, visit: www.nrc.govt.nz/marineareas