I have received the occasional call over the years from vessel operators who have unwittingly fished in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) or the Cable Protection Zones (CPZ) in the Hauraki Gulf or Cook Strait and have been charged under the Marine Reserves Act 1971, or the Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1996. Each of these acts prohibits fishing (either recreational or commercial) in these zones, and they carry heavy penalties, including the forfeiture
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)Maritime Law
Maritime Law: Cable Protection Zones and Marine Protected Areas
Recreational boaters regularly stray into marine restricted areas, for which the penalties can be harsh. New high protection areas in the Gulf will complicate matters.