\u201cKiwis, we\u2019re fairly laidback and we make assumption that, when immigrants come to New Zealand, they won\u2019t crap on the beach, they won\u2019t slaughter all the periwinkles. Well, this is evidence that, as our democracy changes, we\u2019re going to have to be more vigilant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe New Zealand public has got to wake up to the fact that unfettered immigration is going to import these problems, because a lot of the migrant communities have a different cultural mindset and, until they abide by the Kiwi ways, we are going to have to both educate and regulate.\u201d<\/p>\n
University of Auckland marine biologist Andrew Jeffs previously told RNZ he had witnessed this issue first-hand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been at the beach, and observed groups harvesting the organisms out of rock pools and taking them away by the bucketload.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had conversations with people, where I\u2019ve questioned what they are doing on the beach, and they said, \u2018Well, they\u2019re only little animals and it doesn\u2019t matter\u2019, but it does matter, because those animals often only live in a few small places in relatively small areas. Once you remove them, it\u2019s very difficult for them to actually come back and re-establish.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ng\u0101ti Manuhiri Settlement Trust has requested a two-year fisheries ban across parts of the north Auckland coastline.<\/p>\n
Iwi chief executive Nicola MacDonald said that, while harvesting shellfish had long been common practice, as the area\u2019s population had grown, the amount of harvesting had become unsustainable.<\/p>\n
Fisheries said suspected illegal activity could be reported through the 0800 4 POACHER number (0800 476 224).<\/p>\n