Great Barrier Island is set to receive new screw pile moorings in a bid to revitalize tourism affected by severe restrictions to fishing and anchoring due to the invasive seaweed, Caulerpa.
The project, jointly funded by the local board and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), will allocate $300,000 to provide short-stay moorings for visitors.
The new moorings will be managed via an online web portal, allowing bookings for up to 48 hours with strict rules requiring boaties to remain on their vessels overnight.
The installation of the moorings is unlikely to be completed in time for the peak holiday period, with expectations pointing to a mid-January completion.
Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson initially proposed the idea earlier this year, though sources say resource management consent, iwi consultation, ongoing contract finalizations and the requirement to integrate a new contractor into the council system, has delayed rollout.
The moorings will be placed in the Controlled Area Notice regions of Tryphena and Whangaparapara, but there’s plans to apply for consent to install additional moorings further north.
First discovered in New Zealand at Aotea in 2021, Caulerpa has since posed a threat to local marine environments. The fast-spreading seaweed can easily fragment and hitch a ride on anchors, chains, and fishing gear, leading to new infestations far from the original site.
Since its detection, the government has funded several rounds of testing aimed at eradicating the seaweed, but no effective solution has been found for the scale of infestation at Aotea.
To combat the spread, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) introduced Controlled Area Notices (CANs) in the Hauraki Gulf. These regulations, restrict activities such as anchoring and specific types of fishing that can disperse the weed.
The new screw pile moorings replace traditional weights and chains, reducing seabed disturbance and minimizing the risk of spreading the seaweed, allowing boaties to safely return to affected bays on the island’s west coast.
