There’s a good reason why May 28th is National Kahawai Day. It’s the day in 2009 when the Supreme Court delivered its landmark decision confirming the public’s interests in having healthy fisheries. 

Non-commercial fishers have a right to quality fishing. The Court confirmed the Minister has a statutory (legal) obligation to set aside reasonable allowances for non-commercial interests, both Māori customary and recreational, before setting the Total Allowable Commercial Catch (TACC). 

The Court confirmed what we all know, providing for people’s social wellbeing is an important aspect when it comes to fishing and managing New Zealand’s natural resources. 

In plain language, we need to prioritise feeding Kiwis. 

Feeding Kiwis relies on having access to an abundant and vibrant coastal fishery. We need plenty of fish in the water to give us a chance to catch a feed for our families. 

Prior to the advent of spotter planes and purse seiners prowling our coastline, kahawai was a traditional catch for Māori for centuries, and a popular catch for family fishers through generations. Now, the spectacle of kahawai schools off our beaches, river mouths, and coastline are rare. 

Abundance is the key to fishing success for all of us. 

The Kahawai Legal Challenge (KLC) was initiated in 2004. The historic High Court decision, delivered in 2007 by Justice Harrison, was challenged by Sanford Ltd and Sealord in the Court of Appeal in 2008. The Supreme Court hearing was held in February 2009. 

The KLC was the first time recreational fishers had banded together to challenge a Ministerial decision for the future management of a fish stock that was important to our wellbeing. 

The KLC was spearheaded by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council and supported by Te Runanga A Iwi O Ngapuhi and Te Runanga o Ngāti Whatua. 

Without their foresight and courage to stand up for more fish in the water, the kahawai population would likely have continued to be depleted by purse seiners hoovering up whole schools merely to provide cray bait for overseas markets. 

“The Kahawai Legal Challenge Court judgment proved to us that the public can influence how our fish stocks are managed in the future, to make sure our children enjoy more abundant fisheries.”

Richard Baker, LegaSea spokesperson

Why was the KLC so important? 

A brief history of the Kahawai Legal Challenge is here.

Frequently Asked Questions

To view more FAQs on kahawai such as how much kahawai recreational fisheries catch each year to feed their families, click here.