What is the marine park

About the park

Most islands are open to the public, but some are sanctuaries for endangered species and to land you must have a permit. Five marine reserves are also included within the park. We need your help to look after these special islands and marine reserves.

There is a total fire ban in the Hauraki Gulf Islands. Visit Check it’s alright before lighting a fire to find out the rules in your area and keep safe.  

Dogs are not permitted on Motuihe, Motuora, Motutapu, Rangitoto or Tiritiri Matangi islands and on DOC reserves on Kawau and Waiheke Islands. Find places you can walk your dog (external site) on the Auckland Council website.

Pest Free Hauraki Gulf

Area and map

For tide, boundaries and other information you can download the MarineMate app.

The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park covers the Hauraki Gulf, Waitemata Harbour, Firth of Thames and the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula.

It consists of public land - reserves and conservation areas administered by DOC, the foreshore, seabed and sea. Local authorities can add their reserves to the marine park while keeping ownership and control. Protected private or Maori land can be included in the park at the owner's request.

Well-known areas of land within the marine park include:

• Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island
• the Mokohinau Islands/Pokohinu
• more than half of Great Barrier Island/Aotea
• Cuvier Island
• Mansion House on Kawau Island
• North Head Historic Reserve/Maunganuika
• Rangitoto Island
• Motutapu Island
• Mount Moehau on the Coromandel Peninsula
• five marine reserves
• the internationally recognised wetland at the Firth of Thames

Maps

• Hauraki Gulf Islands map (PDF, 742K)
• Hauraki Gulf Marine Park – Catchment and TLA boundaries map (PDF, 218K)

Legislation behind the park

To protect the big blue backyard of the Auckland and Waikato regions and stop its decline, legislation established the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park/Ko te Pataka kai o Tikapa Moana Te Moananui a Toi in February 2000.

The Gulf has plants and wildlife found nowhere else in the world and historic sites of national and global importance. So this legislation helped face the challenges of protecting the Gulf’s wildlife and sites and helped improve their habitat and environment. It also recognised the positive impact the Gulf has on residents and visitors and the relationship of tangata whenua with Tīkapa Moana, Te Moananui-ā-Toi.

Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000

The Act established objectives for the Gulf, its islands and catchments, and aims to achieve integrated management across land and sea. This ensures the effects of urban and rural land use on the Gulf are given proper attention and the life-supporting capacity of the Gulf is protected.

The Act also provided an integrated management approach to the Gulf across 21 statutes, including the Resource Management Act, Conservation Act and Fisheries Act. To support this work, the Act also established the Hauraki Gulf Forum.

Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000 on the NZ Legislation website

Hauraki Gulf Forum

The Forum was established alongside the Marine Park to better integrate management by the local and central government, facilitate coordination, and recognise the special relationship tangata whenua have with the Gulf.

Forum members include representatives of:

• local authorities adjoining the Gulf or its catchments,
• the Ministers of Conservation, Fisheries and Māori Development
• iwi and hāpu.

The Act requires the Forum to produce a 'State of the Environment Report' every three years.

Hauraki Gulf Forum

Our work to support the Gulf

The Revitalising the Gulf marine work programme aims to revitalise the area and enhance it’s blue waters, rocky reefs and underwater habitats.