Mussels in Ōhiwa Harbour rebound to 45 million, thanks to a restoration project combining Māori knowledge and science.

Ōhiwa Harbour's mussel beds have made a dramatic recovery, increasing from 80,000 in 2019 to 45 million in 2024, covering 11 hectares. This success is attributed to a restoration project combining traditional Māori knowledge and marine science led by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa and the University of Waikato. The project involved removing invasive seastars and ongoing monitoring, contributing to a healthier marine ecosystem. The Ministry for Primary Industries has placed a two-year harvesting closure to protect the progress.