Marine & Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011

An application was made under the Marine & Coastal Area Takutai Moana Act 2011. The original legal claimants are the late Reverend Pereniki Tauhara, Trevor Wi Kaitaia, Atihana Johns, and the late Glen Larkin Kaiwaka. Legal counsel for the applicant group is Afeaki Chambers. 

Susan Peters was added as an applicant on 16 July 2025, and Tina Latimer, Leah Wright, Geneva Harrison, and Waha Tauhara were added as applicants to the Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Kahu Takutai Moana application on 18 February 2026.

Te Paatu ki Kauhanga Trust Board is the umbrella organization for Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Kahu, and the application is currently in the High Court. The objective of the application is to recognize orders for customary marine title, protected customary rights, and wāhi tapu for Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Kahu.

Ngā Hapū o Ngāti Kahu Application Area

CIV-2017-485-000268

The application area of interest includes the southern boundary, which is located on the East Coast at Te Whatu (Berghan’s Point), with an imaginary line to the 200 nautical mile Economic Exclusion Zone. The northern boundary is an imaginary line through Rangaunu Harbour out to the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone. All of the sea area between the northern and southern boundaries out to the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone, including Moturoa Islands and other relevant incidental islands therein.