Image/MPI – Aotea Mussel Spat Farm Angeline Greensill, Chairperson of Tainui o Tainui and Nga hapu o Te Uru Customary Fisheries Forum joined Aaron in the studio to discuss concerns raised by local iwi regarding the plan change application submitted by Northwestern Mussels Limited to the Waikato Regional Council. The application seeks to designate Raglan’s west coast as an aquaculture area – an activity that is currently prohibited – prompting concern from local iwi.
The application aims to modify regulations to establish around four aquaculture farms, spanning 700 hectares in total. These farms would be dedicated to mussel spat farming and are proposed to be located along the Te Akau coast stretching as far south as Ruāpuke.
“So that to us is the Māui dolphin area, which we’ve all talked about and tried to protect and had all the science done on for years. Now we have this threat coming,” says Angeline.
During a recent meeting with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) where stakeholders from Port Waikato all the way down to Marakopa were present, local iwi strongly expressed their sentiments, sending a clear message: “Go away. This application is within our gazetted rohe moana. This is a confiscation of our space.” According to Angeline, the current application has brought attention to the broader issue of consultation processes with companies like Northwestern Mussels Limited (a Hauraki based joint venture company), who are essentially looking to expand their operations into the West coast area.
“There’s a mussel spat farmer, who is local, operating in Aotea who’s been doing it for years. Why not support him instead of coming from Hauraki and setting up your own spat farm?” said Angeline, who is sceptical of the benefits to the larger community.
Angeline is also acutely aware that small-scale mussel spat farms have the potential to evolve into expansive marine farming operations over time. This prompts her to question the rationale behind safeguarding the area for the protection of Māui Dolphins while simultaneously considering its opening for aquaculture activities.
“That people go over our heads and do this sort of stuff. They pay no heed to history, and the fact that people have sacrificed their livelihoods and have not been able to fish out here to do any of those things. And yet, it’s okay for someone from another coast to come over, apply and possibly get marine farms up the west coast,” said Angeline.
(listen to the full interview at the link below:) While on the topic of consultation, Angeline mentions the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004 as an example (an Act that requires the Crown to provide assets up to 20% of value of new aquaculture space to iwi). She highlights the specific case on the Waikato west coast where the aquaculture iwi organisation who will receive the assets is not local coastal iwi affected but Te Whakakitenga o Waikato.
Angeline says this ignores the nuances around iwi and hapū who are the mana whakahaere and who exercise customary rights within the harbour and rohe moana.“We know that we have the mana here, and we expect to be at the table when anything happens about the harbour and coast.” The Government recently unveiled its strategy for engaging and supporting iwi, hapū, and whānau applicant groups who seek recognition of their interests under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011 (MACA). This act ensures that the general public has access to the Common Marine Coastal Area (CMCA) and safeguards navigation and fishing rights, except in designated sacred areas known as wāhi tapu.
MACA includes criteria that must be met for claims concerning protected customary rights (PCR). Additionally, the MACA outlines criteria for the recognition and protection of customary marine title (CMT). Claims related to PCR or CMT can be pursued through the courts or through direct negotiations with the Government.
As an example under the act, local authorities would be restricted from issuing a resource consent for activities that are expected to have significant negative impacts on the exercise of a protected customary right, unless approved by the group that holds the protected customary right (with a few exceptions).
As negotiations continue, lawyers representing Tainui o Tainui are presently engaged in the High Court to expedite their MACA claim aimed at safeguarding their customary rights within the harbour and waterways that encompass their tribal boundaries.
“Within this area, all of the hapū are working together collectively. All of the main tribes around the harbour don’t have any major issues with each other. We just expect that some look after their end, we look after this end and the harbour will be fine.” With over 300 MACA applications received, the process to recognise protected customary rights and customary marine title is expected to take several years. https://raglanradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Aotea-mussel.png