National says it will campaign on tightening commercial fishing rules in the Hauraki Gulf, including reviewing controversial carve-outs that allow some activity inside newly created High Protection Areas (HPAs).
National’s conservation spokesperson, Tama Potaka, confirmed the party would try to reinstate a total ban on fishing in the 12 HPAs established under the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act, if elected to govern this November.
Last year the coalition government’s legislation created 12 HPAs — where most commercial and recreational fishing is prohibited — along with five seafloor protection areas.
However, a late-stage amendment allowed commercial ring-net fishing operators, and Māori customary fishers exclusive access to two of the HPAs, a move that sparked backlash from recreational fishers and conservation groups.
Potaka acknowledged the decision had “caused widespread concern from the hundreds of thousands of users of Auckland’s key recreational waterway”.
He also signalled National would review the decision to allow bottom trawling within designated trawl corridors in the Gulf.
“At the heart must be the health of the Hauraki Gulf,” Potaka said, adding that any approach should balance the needs of recreational users and commercial operators.
Opposition to the carve-out helped fuel the “One Ocean” protest in November 2025, when a convoy of more than 500 vehicles towing boats and jet skis crossed the Auckland Harbour Bridge in a 30km procession from Albany to Mission Bay.
The protest group formed in response to the ring-net amendment. Its central message: if an area is designated for protection, the rules should apply equally to everyone.
Advocacy group LegaSea has been sharply critical of the reforms, calling the legislation a “scam” and arguing it fails to address the root causes of fish stock depletion.
LegaSea has pointed to increased reported discards since cameras were installed on some commercial vessels. Reported dumping of species such as snapper has risen significantly under onboard monitoring, revealing the scale of industrial by-catch.
The group argues that allowing commercial extraction inside protected zones prevents meaningful seabed recovery and undermines public confidence in the reforms.
Tensions escalated in January when video filmed off the coast of Great Barrier Island showed hundreds of dead fish floating in the wake of what appeared to be a commercial trawler.
The footage was captured by recreational fisher and Wettie founder Darren Shields. It shows what Shields described as a “carpet” of dead marine life, including boarfish and juvenile snapper.
In the video, Shields criticised Fisheries Minister Shane Jones, saying: “You can’t tell me that that is good. There is no form of this that is any good.”
The fish appeared to be by-catch — species unintentionally caught while targeting others. Many were reportedly undersized or of low commercial value, and are commonly discarded, often already dead or dying due to pressure trauma.
The video drew thousands of responses over the holiday break, reigniting fierce debate over commercial fishing practices in the Hauraki Gulf.
The late-stage carve-outs in last year’s marine protection legislation were widely attributed at the time to pressure from Jones and NZ First, which positioned themselves as a defender of both Māori customary and commercial fishing interests in the Gulf.
Given NZ First has yet to signal any willingness to backtrack on its controversial carve-outs, it appears National are making the case to voters that if they want change on the Gulf issue at the next election, they need to give their vote to National, as opposed to their coalition partner.
