Around four years ago concerns were raised about the state of the Doubtless Bay marine environment. A meeting was arranged and over 100 people attended. The high turnout was later attributed to the perception that the organisers were planning to turn all of Doubtless Bay into a marine reserve. This has never been the intention of the Doubtless Bay Marine Protection Group and they accept that they have no mandate to do so.
Talks have continued with Ngati Kahu and a small group has been working on a management plan for the Bay and have produced a draft discussion document. The group has a clear understanding that the outcome will be what iwi and the local community want - not what the group wants. Without community support, no protection measures will work irrespective if it is an initiative by Maori or non-Maori.
While there are some people in the group who believe that marine reserves are a good protection tool, one of the things we have promoted right from the start is mataitai. We are very strong supporters of that as being the ultimate, overarching tool for marine management right around the coast of New Zealand and we support that 100%.
