Ban on taking paua, mussels

NO GO: Taupo Bay will be a no go area for mussel and paua lovers for the next two years.

A two-year ban on collecting mussels and paua has been imposed at Taupo Bay by local hapu, who hope it will protect the species from unsustainable pressure.

Ngati Rua and Taupo Bay marae initiated the rahui, which is scheduled to be lifted on December 20, 2017, prohibiting the taking of paua and mussels.

Spokesman Morgan Moses said paua were being "hit" in the Taupo Bay area, some people ignoring the minimum size.

"It's easy access and our Maori people don't like listening to the law, so we are putting this rahui in place to tell people 'taihoa'. We hope people will listen to this," he said.

Mr Moses said mussels were also easily harvested and under pressure. The beds had dwindled 10 years ago, and had taken about five years to recover.

"We don't want this to happen again, so we hope if we stop people taking them for two years we won't end up having to wait five years again," he said.

He believed it was several years since there had been a rahui in the area. The current ban had taken about two months to put in place, the process involving conversations with the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Far North District Council.

"This is about our future and respecting Tangaroa, and understanding that, if we don't change now, we might not have anything left," Mr Moses said.

He hoped the hapu would be able to erect signs informing people of the rahui, while hapu members would be patrolling the beach and educating people about the measure.

He was also hoping for more signage informing people of the seafood regulations generally, including minimum sizes and daily limits.