Waiheke Island Marine Reserve Perspectives

After the State of our gulf report was released the group called the friends of the Hauraki Gulf reacted with a proposal for a marine reserve on the Northern side Waiheke Island to address the degradation of the state of the biodiversity in the Hauraki Gulf and as a Learning and economic opportunity for Waiheke Island. So far they have completed a topographical survey of the area and will be completing a biological survey and a survey of local opinions. The proposal was met with both support and opposition. I have grouped the different perspectives in the following way. Those in support are DoC and the Hauraki Gulf Forum, and the Friends of the Hauraki Gulf plus the locals in support but not part of the Friends of the Hauraki Gulf itself. Those against are the local group opposing the proposal keep our Beaches and those residents against the proposal in a particular area.

Doc are for the proposal of marine reserve. The creation of a marine reserve means that the management of the sea and coastline falls to them and so they can utilize the area as a marine reserve, manage the land to sea flow and allow the set up of commercial gear hire and tours. Waiheke’s Northern coastline is an ideal location as it combines much pristine and diverse environment including reef networks, sandy beaches and offshore habitats. A great location for a DoC marine reserve, an area which is ‘unique and in National interest to protect’.

The Hauraki Gulf Forum are strongly for the proposal of a marine reserve. In their report they say that “most of the indicators in the report suggest that the Gulf is experiencing ongoing environmental degradation, and resources are continuing to be lost or suppressed at environmentally low levels”. They also said that they do not fully know the effect of different activities causing degradation caused by humans and so the need for much more marine protection is needed in their eyes. Their report has outlined the dire situation of marine