Government backs oyster industry resilience
New Zealand commits $2.8 million to enhance Northland’s oyster industry resilience through new infrastructure and commercial pilot farms in Kaipara Harbour.
The Regional Infrastructure Fund will allocate $2.8 million to strengthen the Northland oyster sector, addressing recurring closures in Mahurangi Harbour that have disrupted harvests and strained local growers. The investment aims to reduce economic disruptions and support community livelihoods by improving industry resilience. Infrastructure projects include a 6-hectare relay site and a 3-hectare commercial pilot oyster farm in Kaipara Harbour.
A new relay site in Kaipara Harbour will temporarily relocate oysters during water quality closures, allowing natural purification before harvest. This initiative is expected to minimize disruptions to supply chains and stabilize income for oyster farmers. The project aligns with broader efforts to safeguard a nationally significant industry facing environmental challenges.
The funding announcement was made by Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Under-Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries Jenny Marcroft at Pahi in Kaipara. The project is a collaboration between Te Uri o Hau Settlement Trust and the Mahurangi Oyster Farmers Collective, which operates in the Mahurangi Harbour near Warkworth.
The Regional Infrastructure Fund grant will be repayable if the project generates sufficient revenue. The initiative also includes training for local hapū Te Uri o Hau, with experienced Mahurangi oyster farmers mentoring new growers to build aquaculture skills in Kaipara Harbour.