The ‘Hauraki Gulf’ is on the northeast coast of the North Island. The Gulf is part of a special management area called the ‘Hauraki Gulf Marine Park area’. The marine park encompasses 1.2 million hectares and includes 50 islands between Te Arai in the north, the Hauraki Gulf and down to Waihi in the Bay of Plenty. a huge area across East Auckland and Waikato regions, including foreshore out to 12 nautical miles past Aotea (Great Barrier Island).
The Hauraki Gulf Marine Park is managed under the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Act 2000. The purposes of the act include; Integrating management of natural, physical and historic resources of the Hauraki Gulf, and to recognise historic, traditional, cultural and spiritual relationship of tangata whenua within the Gulf. The Hauraki Gulf Forum was established under the act.
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