Ngāi Tai have maintained a Rāhui and 186A Temporary Closure for some years now at Umupuia Beach in relation to the taking of tuangi (cockles) and continue to maintain their Rāhui. MPI surveys over these years demonstrate that the tuangi have increased in number and size to the point where Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki can begin to comtemplate a controlled customary harvest regime through their Tangata Kaitiaki based from Umupuia.  The rāhui area and its proximity to a local marine reserve at Matuku have generated an observable increase in fish and shellfish stocks and with associated seabird activity to the area there is consequent benefit to all user groups. 

Unrestricted public harvest cannot be contemplated as notwithstanding the personal limit of 50 Tuangi our experience was that the shellfish population collapsed. Prior to the rāhui Umupuia was the most heavily harvested beach in Aotearoa. The large developments and rapidly increasing population and proximity to large immigrant groupings who often do not know our rules contribute to the risk to the shellfish stock and potential repeat collapse. Ngāi Tai are determined this should not happen again.