New Zealand bans spiny rock lobster fishing in Hauraki Gulf for three years to restore marine life.

New Zealand has closed the inner Hauraki Gulf to spiny rock lobster fishing for three years starting April 1, 2025, to help restore the lobster population and combat "kina barrens." This ecological issue, where marine ecosystems turn into bare rock, is exacerbated by overfishing of species like spiny rock lobsters. The Ngāti Manuhiri Settlement Trust welcomes this move as a step towards restoring marine life in the region.