Slide 1
Kia ora, nau mai ki Maitai Bay
The Rāhui
Image is not available

In 2017 Te Whānau Moana/Te Rorohuri laid a rāhui over the area to stop all fishing and taking of seafood in order to allow the area to recover.

You can help by refraining from removing any shellfish / fish from the area.

previous arrow
next arrow

The Rāhui Kōrero

Hear the kōrero behind Maitai Bay, the rāhui, and the pou that remind us to protect our kaimoana, whenua and future generations.

Pou overlooking Maitai Bay

Pou, place and protection

The pou above Maitai Bay are symbolic of the rāhui, standing as a reminder to care for the moana, the whenua and each other.

They represent the people of this area and the ocean within that space, helping keep the kaupapa visible for future generations.

Read the pou story ›

Tap to hear the kōrero

This film was made during an earlier stage of the Maitai Bay rāhui journey. It remains an important record of the kaupapa.

Since then, restoration work has continued, and the kina issue is now under control in the main Maitai Bay and campground area where culling has taken place under Traditional Authority.

Open full video ›
  • image1.jpeg
  • image2.jpeg
  • image3.jpeg
  • image4.jpeg
  • image6.1.jpeg
  • image6.jpeg
  • image7.jpeg
  • image8.jpeg
  • image8.png
  • image9.1.jpeg
  • image9.jpeg
  • image10.1.jpeg
  • image10.jpeg
  • image11.jpeg
  • image12.jpeg
  • image13.jpeg
  • image14.jpeg
  • image15.jpeg
  • image16.jpeg

What’s New

Recent updates, stories, and resources from the Maitai Bay rāhui kaupapa.

Education Building update
⌂

Education Building

See the early concept for a future education space, shared with the community for feedback and funding support. 

View update ›
Maitai Bay rāhui roadmap
⌁

Roadmap

Explore the long-term vision and key steps guiding the rāhui into the future.

View roadmap ›
Community Gallery
▣

Community Gallery

Photos and videos shared by visitors and the wider community.

Visit gallery ›
Maitai Bay snorkel day event
◉

Events

Watch the latest snorkel day video from Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust and find out what’s next.

View events ›

The Rāhui

In 2017 Te Whānau Moana/Te Rorohuri laid a rāhui over the area to stop all fishing and taking of seafood in order to allow the area to recover.

You can help by refraining from removing any shellfish / fish from the area.

The Ministry for Primary Industries supports the conservation initiative but does not enforce the ban. Instead, the current emphasis is on education not enforcement.

Please respect it

"People are respecting it, they understand what we're trying to achieve. They agree and they support it”.

The rahui is effective even if it can't be legally enforced. It has been respected by most people and makes them think about their effect on marine life.

“It's embedded in people's minds now. They take what they need, not necessarily what they are allowed.”

Boundaries

boundary map

View boundaries here

To protect, preserve and restore

End of 2017 a rahui was placed on to Maitai Bay making it a complete NO TAKE ZONE.

As kaitiaki we, Te Whanau Moana me Te Rorohuri and wider community, wanted to take action to improve the management of our rohe and to slow the rate kaimaona was being taken from our moana.

The rahui is there to restore the mauri (life force, health) of Maitai Bay and to ensure our tamariki and mokopuna will still be able to enjoy the natural taonga in the future.

By prohibiting access, the resources of the area will hopefully be given time to be restored. As a community we believe the rahui is the first step to moving forward for the sustainability of our kaimona.

Rahui committee at Pou

Our goals

Our goals:

  • Bring balance back to our moana
  • Restore depleted areas
  • Restore the TAPU, restore the MANA
  • Implement a sustainability plan for the future generations

 

In critical need of extra protection

blue maomaoHistorical evidence, extensive local knowledge, and more recent scientific research shows the area of Maitai Bay is in critical need of extra protection. Due to its high ecological values and favourable environmental conditions, it is an ideal location to start the process of enforcing kaitiakitanga (guardianship) for our moana.

We are witnessing the decline in our fish numbers in the area and the spread of kina barrens along our coast which is highlighting the urgency for us to act before it is too late.

Main Menu