Photo by Karena Kaihe-Woolston |
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We're in the fight of our lives and we need your help!
If you're a keen supporter of LegaSea, shared our posts, or stood up for the future of fishing in New Zealand, this is for you.
Right now, the pressure is real. Proposed changes to the Fisheries Act are among the most serious threats to our coastal fisheries. The so-called "reforms" don't put Kiwis first.
We're pushing back hard because short-term profit should not come ahead of long-term abundance, and because our kids deserve a coastline with fish in it. We can't do this alone.
We're calling on businesses, big and small, to step up as LegaSea Works Partners. For $500 a year, your workplace can put its name behind the fight for healthier fisheries, less destructive fishing and fairer access for everyday Kiwis. And what's more, this can be classed as a business expense, reducing the tax bill! In return, you'll receive a $50 Marine Deals voucher, a framed LegaSea print by Ian Wills, recognition on our website, and the knowledge that you stood up when it counted.
Find out how to become a Works Partner now! |
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Fast-tracking marine depletion while silencing our voices |
Photo by Chris Maraj
LegaSea exists to highlight the public's stake in a healthy, abundant ocean. That's why we're deeply concerned about proposed changes to the Fisheries Act that would make it harder for the public to challenge fisheries decisions that affect us all. Shane Jones, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, is proposing to cut the time allowed to legally challenge his decisions to just 20 days.
A 20-day deadline makes it unrealistic for recreational fishers, iwi/hapū, community groups or environmental organisations to properly analyse decisions, consult experts, or even receive information requested under the Official Information Act.
In practice, this proposal shuts the public out of decisions affecting a shared and finite resource.
Why does this matter? Fast-tracking decisions while limiting public scrutiny increases the risk of overfishing, ecosystem damage, and long-term depletion. These outcomes cannot easily be undone.
Click here to read more about the proposal and why we are concerned. |
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🤷♂️ Why does the Minister want to limit the public's ability to challenge fisheries decisions? Court scrutiny has historically played a critical role in holding Fisheries Ministers accountable to the purpose of the Fisheries Act. The Minister must ensure sustainability and protect the wider marine environment when making fisheries decisions.
Recent High Court decisions involving crayfish, tarakihi, and the protection of hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) have all reinforced the Act's purpose. The rulings have confirmed that the Minister must take genuine, precautionary steps to protect fish stocks and marine ecosystems from overfishing and long-term damage. Rather than responding to these rulings by strengthening management, the Minister appears intent on changing the law to avoid further judicial oversight. |
🤷♂️ Why should the public be able to challenge fisheries decisions at all?
Because the fisheries resource belongs to all New Zealanders. Judicial review is a fundamental part of the decision-making process, available to all New Zealanders. It allows for expert, independent oversight by judges who can review decisions and how they compare to the law. It's a basic accountability mechanism that ensures decisions follow the law and properly consider sustainability and environmental impacts. |
🤷♂️ What happens next?
The proposal to limit judicial review will be included in the Fisheries Act Amendment Bill expected in March. When it's released, we need the public to engage, submit, and make their views known before long-standing safeguards are lost. |
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Come and see us at the show! |
We'll be at the Auckland Boat Show this week, and we'd love to see you there. You'll find LegaSea at Stand 145 in the Pavilion at Jellicoe Harbour. The show runs from 5 to 8 March down at the Viaduct Events Centre and across Wynyard Wharf, with boats in the water, gear, electronics, tackle, the lot. It's one of the few times each year that so much of the boating and fishing community is in the same place. Click here to buy tickets.
We'll be using the boat show as a chance to talk about the government's proposed fisheries reforms currently being pushed through. We'll have the details on what's proposed, why it matters to everyday fishers, and what we think real reform should look like. We'll also have our newly established LegaSea coffee cart there, so if you need a decent brew while you wander through the show, come and grab one and have a proper yarn with the team.
The following weekend we'll be at the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival, 13 to 15 March, around the Wynyard Quarter waterfront. It's a free event celebrating classic wooden boats and maritime heritage, with beautiful vessels on display and plenty of stories tied up in timber and salt. We'll have the coffee cart there as well, so you can refuel while soaking up the atmosphere and catching up with us about what's happening in your patch.
If you're heading along to either event, swing past and say hi. The conversations we have face-to-face matter more than ever right now. |
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🎏 Catch of the Day "A healthy ocean is the most reliable insurance policy for coastal communities and commercial fishers alike." |
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Staunch supporters from the very beginning |
Black Magic have been Gold Partners of LegaSea for years, and that kind of consistent backing means a lot. In an industry that can sometimes sit on the sidelines, Steve Newland, Rick Wakelin before him, and the Black Magic crew, have always been willing to stand up and support better outcomes for our fisheries.
They're a proud Kiwi brand, deeply embedded in recreational fishing culture. They understand that great gear only matters if there are plenty of fish in the sea. That's why they back LegaSea's FishCare education, support our advocacy work, and help keep the wider fishing community engaged in the bigger picture. It's not loud or flashy. It's steady, values-driven support from people who care about the future of fishing in Aotearoa.
Massive thanks to Steve, Rick and the Black Magic team for continuing to walk the talk and stand alongside LegaSea. |
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In the news... Fishing for a win, the National Party does a backflip
National has announced that, if re-elected, it will ban ring-net fishing in some areas of the Hauraki Gulf, but the policy they've promised to reverse was their own. Amanda Gillies, Newsroom, March 2026 |
Fishing in NZ waters overhaul - 'cock up' or 'once in a lifetime shot'?
New Zealand's fishing system is either a global success story or it's failing the very environment it relies on, depending on who you ask. Now Minister Shane Jones wants to introduce law changes to "boost productivity", a prospect filling environmentalists with dread. Gill Higgins, One News, March 2026 |
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LegaSea is proudly supported by its Gold and Platinum partners: |
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