Celebrating long awaited Marine Protection for The Noises

The Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Bill passed its third and final reading and will soon pass into law. It has been 12 long years in the making and is the culmination of enormous effort made by so many tireless champions. Feelings of joy, relief, and a hefty sense of responsibility to make the most of this amazing opportunity abound!  

It means The Noises will become one of 12 new High Protection Areas (HPA’s). Just under 60 km2 of marine protection will encompass all the islands, rock stacks, and reefs around The Noises group, to protect diverse habitats supporting a wide variety of species biodiversity. 

For our family, it seems so important to take the time now to acknowledge and give heartfelt thanks to all those involved in progressing this protection around The Noises, and for their ongoing, unflinching support for this taonga.

We hope in the future, to expand this network of support to include exciting new collaborations, and embrace support from others who care about the future of the marine environment around The Noises and the Hauraki Gulf, Tikapa Moana.

The establishment of The Noises HPA is far from the end game. Rather, it’s a hugely important step in the right direction, it’s the start of a new era of hope and opportunity, studying regeneration rather than the loss we’ve witnessed all our lives. It’s the opportunity to change things for the better, including certain aspects of the legislation itself.

Along with new legislation, comes amazing opportunities to do things differently. 

We can research passive regeneration and trial active regeneration that may provide benefit to the wider Gulf. We anticipate much support for this and scope for many to be involved. 

High Protection Areas will provide opportunities to work alongside, or support Mana Whenua where appropriate, in their role as kaitiaki, as well as working closely with DOC, MPI, and the wider community. It’s so important that we are all aware of one another’s mahi and the opportunities we may have to build on research. The respectful use of our collective wisdom to include Mātauranga Māori, science, and local ecological knowledge will ensure we make the best decisions for the future health of this taonga.  

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE NOISES

This new legislation provides new opportunities to share open communications that we hope will highlight regeneration. Accurate reporting, including when something hasn’t gone as anticipated, is critical to building our knowledge. 

The wealth of land and sea connections are abundant and fascinating. Highlighting some of these observations from The Noises will be a privilege. 

Sharing what we learn, not only environmental change, but celebrating cultural gains and identifying economic benefits that emerge from the HPA are all important stories – especially in the context of our rapidly changing world.  

We are very conscious that the long-term care of this precious taonga lies with all of us. We hope encouraging this awareness through our communications, will help spread this responsibility and foster a duty of care, ensuring the effectiveness, and long-term benefits associated with marine protection will be enjoyed by generations to come.

We know there are other factors influencing marine regeneration like climate change, sedimentation and pollution. The elimination of harvest pressure now allows us to more clearly understand barriers and threats to regeneration. This may more accurately support a push for change elsewhere.

Establishment of The Noises HPA means we can now learn how to sustainably use this asset for the regeneration of the moana beyond the boundaries of The Noises HPA.  The combined positive impact from a network of 12 new HPA’s, two marine reserve extensions and five seafloor protection areas may, over time, provide multiple and cumulative benefits over much larger areas than the 6% protection this new legislation provides. 

In our present world of loss and uncertainty, how do we value an emerging “hopespot” right on the doorstep of Tāmaki Makaurau, where people can go to experience wonder, joy, and regeneration? Being able to read and hear stories of positive change, happening “just out there”, may inspire and encourage others to know that with their help, they too can transform their own special places, to something more precious.

This is such an exciting new chapter for marine protection in Aotearoa. We can’t wait to get started at The Noises!