Policy – August 10, 2026
New Zealand Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones. Photo: PCE/Wikimedia Commons
New Zealand has approved a 14,400-tonne open-ocean salmon farm off Rakiura/Stewart Island, a project capable of adding almost as much production as the country’s entire existing salmon farming industry.
Ngāi Tahu Seafood Resources received fast-track approval on Monday for the Hananui Aquaculture Project, comprising four marine farms across a 1,285-hectare area about 13 kilometres from Oban.
At full production, Hananui is expected to produce 14,400 tonnes of king salmon a year, generate more than NZD 310 million (€158 million) in annual sales and support between 415 and 480 jobs, according to the New Zealand government.
“This is almost as much salmon as was produced by all of New Zealand’s salmon farms in 2025-2026,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones said.
The project will comprise up to 80 circular sea pens arranged across four farms, together with feed barges and associated infrastructure. The approval makes Hananui the first aquaculture development cleared under New Zealand’s new Fast-track Approvals Act.
The decision marks a major reversal for a project that has spent about seven years attempting to secure consent.
Ngāi Tahu first sought approval under the Resource Management Act in 2019 before withdrawing the application. A second application through the country’s Covid-19 fast-track process was declined in August 2023. The latest application was lodged in November 2025.
The new approval is subject to conditions and allows development in two stages. Progression to the second stage will depend on environmental monitoring, with at least two full production cycles across all four farms required before further expansion.
Ngāi Tahu Holdings chief executive Todd Moyle said the decision followed years of work but cautioned that the company had not yet made a final investment decision.
“We will now take the time to thoroughly assess the consent conditions and confirm our pathway before making any decisions on how we proceed,” Moyle said.
Ngāi Tahu said it would consult local communities and other stakeholders while assessing the conditions attached to the consent.
The project forms part of the government’s push to expand open-ocean aquaculture, with New Zealand targeting NZD 3 billion (€1.53 billion) in annual aquaculture revenue by 2035.ovals Act.
The decision marks a major reversal for a project that has spent about seven years attempting to secure consent.
Ngāi Tahu first sought approval under the Resource Management Act in 2019 before withdrawing the application. A second application through the country’s Covid-19 fast-track process was declined in August 2023. The latest application was lodged in November 2025.
The new approval is subject to conditions and allows development in two stages. Progression to the second stage will depend on environmental monitoring, with at least two full production cycles across all four farms required before further expansion.
Ngāi Tahu Holdings chief executive Todd Moyle said the decision followed years of work but cautioned that the company had not yet made a final investment decision.
“We will now take the time to thoroughly assess the consent conditions and confirm our pathway before making any decisions on how we proceed,” Moyle said.
Ngāi Tahu said it would consult local communities and other stakeholders while assessing the conditions attached to the consent.
The project forms part of the government’s push to expand open-ocean aquaculture, with New Zealand targeting NZD 3 billion in annual aquaculture revenue by 2035. Large-scale offshore farming has been identified as a central part of that strategy.