Date:  29 December 2022

The Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust has placed a rāhui over the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point (Goat Island) Marine Reserve, north of Auckland, following a death of a man on Wednesday morning.

It is with great sadness that Ngāti Manuhiri acknowledge the recent death in the marine reserve. 

With the support of DOC, a rāhui has been placed over the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point (Goat Island) Marine Reserve from 7 pm on Wednesday 28 December and will be lifted at 7 pm on Saturday 31 December 2022.

A rāhui (physical and spiritual protection mechanism) sets a temporary prohibition around the rāhui area and limits access for that period in order to acknowledge the death and to express our sympathy to the whānau of the deceased.

It provides time for tapu (sacredness) to dissipate following the death allowing time for healing and recovery of the natural elements at place as well as the people; in particular, the grieving whānau. 

To show respect, people are asked to use alternative areas during the rāhui. This includes swimmers, surfers, divers, boat users, and those using other watercraft, including kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

Extending from Cape Rodney to Okakari Point, the marine reserve includes the waters 800 m from shore including Te Hāwere-a-Maki/Goat Island.

Cape Rodney-Okakari Point (Goat Island) Marine Reserve boundary map | Image: DOC

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