Protect Pūtiki

Protect Pūtiki Members of Waiheke community&tangata whenua united to protect+preserve Pūtiki Bay~Waiheke Island 🌊

Protecting Pūtiki & Tīkapa Moana - Community Action, Ocean Restoration, and the Fight Against Bottom TrawlingThis Te Ao ...
27/07/2026

Protecting Pūtiki & Tīkapa Moana - Community Action, Ocean Restoration, and the Fight Against Bottom Trawling

This Te Ao Māori News article captures Waiheke Island’s urgent fight to restore Tīkapa Moana before ecological collapse. At its heart are three interconnected battles: defending coastal sites, restoring marine habitats, and banning destructive fishing.

The Protect Pūtiki campaign, led by Ngāti Pāoa and community, exemplifies ongoing advocacy. Opposing the Kennedy Point Marina, the occupation highlighted how coastal development threatens kororā habitat and proceeded despite mana whenua opposition. This grassroots resistance continues to inspire stronger penguin protections across Aotearoa and sends a clear warning against privatising the commons at biodiversity's expense.

Simultaneously, restoration yields tangible results. The Waiheke Marine Project's Kelp Gardeners programme removes over-abundant kina to regenerate kelp forests - critical carbon sinks and nurseries. Guided by mātauranga Māori and the maramataka, volunteers have witnessed lush kelp return, along with tāmure, wheke, and stingrays, proving ecosystems can rebound. This work now receives $419,400 in local board funding, creating pathways for rangatahi into marine careers.

Crucially, advocates push for systemic change. Bianca Ranson (Ngāti Kahu, Ngāpuhi) calls bottom trawling the greatest threat, with all 21 Auckland local boards now demanding a ban. While the Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act expanded protected areas to 6%, campaigners seek 30% by 2030, warning that government bills prioritising economic development could undermine these gains.

Despite climate pressures, the article delivers hope: nature heals if we stop abusing it. Read the full piece to see how Protect Pūtiki's legacy, daily kaitiakitanga, and political advocacy remain fiercely alive, led by locals like Karen Saunders and Eric Hillman who believe in loving "your little corner of the creek" as the path back to connection.

Article by Te Aniwaniwa Paterson. E mihi ana ki a koe e te tuahine!

28/06/2026

Despite what you may have heard, the Conservation Amendment Bill has not changed. Here’s what actually happened.

The Minister announced he wants to remove the parts of the Bill relating to conservation land sales and exchanges. But he can’t simply rewrite it overnight while the Select Committee is hearing public submissions on it. Changes can only come later, and he has to get those changes past Shane Jones and the rest of Cabinet first before they can be put in the bill, and importantly he didn’t say which clauses he’s willing to remove.

We don’t know whether every land sale provision would be removed. The Bill doesn’t contain just one clause relating to conservation land sales. It contains multiple changes that work together to make conservation land easier to sell or exchange. Until we see the amended text, we simply don’t know how much conservation land could still be vulnerable to sale or exchange.

And most important, even IF every land sale provision is eventually removed, this Bill would still make it easier for mines, hotels, private resorts, monorails, shops and other commercial developments to be approved on public conservation land.

So the fight hasn’t ended. It has only just begun. Make your submission. Let’s bury this Bill.

Link to submit in bio.

✍🏽 Gen Toop 🎥 Geoff Keey

25/06/2026

Aotearoa is still for sale. The conservation amendment bill is fundamentally flawed and should be thrown out. People power works. Submit, call your MP. Keep the pressure on.

Submission link in our bio.

Following Potaka's speech announcing the removal of land for disposal and exchange, Shane Jones made it explicitly clear...
25/06/2026

Following Potaka's speech announcing the removal of land for disposal and exchange, Shane Jones made it explicitly clear that he will be pushing hard for economic development of conservation land, specifically that in schedule 4 which opens up our precious whenua to mining. Tama's decision has made this bill messy. It should be withdrawn completely and reworked properly from scratch. Then reintroduced next term. People power got us to this point. Keep going until they bin the bill entirely.

25/06/2026

The Conservation Amendment Bill makes it too easy for up to 60% of conservation land to be considered for sale or exchange. New Zealanders want conservation land protected.

The bill is too flawed to be “fixed” through Select Committee. It should be thrown out completely.

Submissions close on 2 July. Link in bio.

24/06/2026

Bin the bill 🚮 The Conservation Amendment Bill must be thrown out entirely. Get on the phone to and email your MPs. Make a submission before 2 July (link in bio). Don't stop until the government backs down. Let's end the war on nature and vote them out this election 🗳️

🎥 Adam Brady

24/06/2026

Bin the conservation amendment bill 🚮 It's too flawed to be fixed. Keep the pressure on until the government backs down. We the people will not let up to 60% of our conservation land be sold. Once it's gone, it's gone forever.

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