Naw Zealand (ONLY ONE) : PROTECT HAURAKI GULF !

 

Hi, New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana is one of the country’s most treasured marine environments, home to countless seabirds and marine mammals like orcas and seals. But because of overfishing, pollution, and climate change, this extraordinary area is now on the brink of ecological collapse.  For over a decade, iwi (Māori tribes), local communities, fishers, advocacy groups, and governments have worked together to develop the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill, which aims to restore and secure this biodiversity hotspot. In June, Parliament’s Environment Select Committee unanimously agreed to advance the Bill and finally set the Gulf on a path toward revitalization.  But now, last-minute changes threaten everything. At the eleventh hour, the government has introduced hasty amendments to allow commercial ring-net fishing to take place in "high protection areas" — zones meant to serve as safe havens for depleted marine life to rebound and recover.  We can’t let this happen. Join us and our partner World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) New Zealand in calling on New Zealand to effectively protect the Hauraki Gulf for future generations. Urge Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to reverse this last-minute decision to permit harmful fishing in Hauraki Gulf protected waters.

This reckless move undermines more than a decade of progress — as well as the very purpose of the Bill — and it also sets a dangerous precedent for future protections. In recent years, we’ve seen a dramatic decline in key fish stocks, seabirds, whales, and dolphins in the Gulf, making it clear that urgent protection is desperately overdue. We cannot allow the government to water down its commitments at this critical time. Sign the open letter and urge the New Zealand government to protect the iconic Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana.  Together, we can turn the tide and ensure this cherished place remains the thriving, vibrant jewel of Auckland’s blue backyard for years to come. For the ocean, Only One and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) New Zealand.

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