Kāi Tahu welcomes approval on Hananui Aquaculture Project

Ngāi Tahu Seafood welcomes the approval of a resource consent for the Hananui Aquaculture Project, following the Expert Panel’s decision today under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.

The consent allows for the development of four open ocean marine farms across a 1,285-hectare area of the coastal marine area off Rakiura (Stewart Island), 13 kilometres north-east of Oban.

For Kāi Tahu, the significance of the decision extends beyond the project itself. It represents an important opportunity to explore aquaculture development within the Kāi Tahu takiwā, and reflects years of work to realise opportunities that align cultural, environmental and economic aspirations.

Mana whenua representative Barry Bragg says that the decision is extremely welcome news to the iwi, and in particular the southern papatipu rūnaka who supported the application.

“Rakiura is a special place for our people. We have a deep connection to the whenua, to the moana, and to the mauka Hananui, which the project is named for,” he says. “For me, this decision recognises that history, and gives us the chance to think about what aquaculture could look like in our own takiwā, on our own terms.

“I’m excited about the project’s potential to support local employment, strengthen our communities and create benefits for future generations, while continuing to uphold our responsibilities as kaitiaki in a place that means so much to us.”

Ngāi Tahu Holdings Chief Executive Todd Moyle says the decision was the result of years of careful work to develop and strengthen the proposal.

“This has been a long road and we are proud of the application we put forward. We want to acknowledge the dedication of the team who has worked on this for several years, from our kaimahi and technical advisors through to rūnaka representatives and others who have contributed along the way.”

The approval follows a revised application that addressed matters raised during consideration of an earlier proposal. Todd Moyle says today’s decision is an important milestone, but not the end of the process.

“We will now take the time to thoroughly assess the consent conditions and confirm our pathway before making any decisions on how we proceed. This is a significant long-term investment and we want to make sure we get it right, for Kāi Tahu whānau and the Murihiku community.”

Ngāi Tahu Seafood will now engage with Murihiku papatipu rūnaka, the local community, and other stakeholders as it works through the consent conditions and considers the next phase of the project.