Maori trust given two weeks to remove mussel farm

A Maori trust allegedly running an illegal mussel farm at Whangaruru, south of the Bay of Islands, has been given an extra two weeks to remove the structure.

Last month Northland Regional Council (NRC) issued Te Au O Morunga Marine Farm Trust abatement notices for an unauthorised mussel farm being built at two sites in the harbour.

The trust was given until this week to remove the structures, but NRC monitoring manager Tony Phipps said the trust has now been given an extension until June 23.

Mr Phipps said this was to allow council staff to discuss with the trust its plans for the harbour.

The notices required an immediate halt to construction as well as the removal of hundreds of metres of ropes, buoys, anchors and other equipment already installed.

Mr Phipps said the farm has been developed in Whangaruru Harbour without resource consent, in two spots several kilometres apart.

The sites involve hundreds of metres of ropes and buoys, which NRC might pose a navigation hazard to boat users in the popular recreation area.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)