Pāua
Tuke o rangi, Kararuri (young pāua)
Haliotis irisAlso known as Blackfoot pāua, Ordinary pāua, Abalone
Pāua (Haliotis iris), or blackfoot pāua, is a large sea snail found only in New Zealand. It clings to rocks in shallow, surging water, and is known for its black foot and its blue-green, rainbow-sheened shell. It may only be gathered by free diving or from the shore, with strict size limits and some closures.
How to identify pāua
- A single oval, ear-shaped shell, rough and often crusted with weed and coralline growth on the outside.
- A row of open breathing holes (respiratory pores) along one edge of the shell.
- A black foot and a black frilly skirt (the epipodium) around the edge of the body.
- Inside, the shell is bright blue, green and purple with a rainbow sheen.
Pāua is the largest of New Zealand's four living pāua species, and one of the larger abalone in the world. Adults can reach 18–20 cm long. The black foot separates it from yellowfoot pāua (Haliotis australis), which has a yellow foot and grows to only about 11–12 cm, and from whitefoot or virgin pāua (Haliotis virginea), which is smaller again, at up to about 8 cm.
The fourth species, the Manawatāwhi pāua (Haliotis pirimoana), was described in 2024. It grows to just under 4 cm and is known only from the Three Kings Islands, so gatherers on the mainland will not see it.
Blackfoot and yellowfoot pāua have different minimum sizes and, in most areas, separate daily limits, so check which one you have before you take it. Yellowfoot and whitefoot pāua have many names of their own in te reo Māori; NIWA lists hihiwa and karariwha among the names for yellowfoot, and koio and marapeka for whitefoot.
Often confused with
- Yellowfoot pāua (Haliotis australis)
Yellowfoot pāua has a yellow foot and a much smaller shell, growing to only about 11–12 cm. Blackfoot pāua has a black foot and grows much bigger.
- Whitefoot (virgin) pāua (Haliotis virginea)
Whitefoot pāua is the smallest of the three common species, up to about 8 cm, with a pale foot. It is the least common, though it is found from North Cape to the subantarctic islands.
Size and daily limits
Minimum shell length (blackfoot)125–130 mmLimits for each area
| Area | Min. size | Daily limit |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland and Kermadec | 125 mm | 10DetailsOrdinary/black-foot pāua (Haliotis iris): 10 per day, min 125 mm. Yellow-foot pāua (H. australis): 10 per day, min 80 mm. Same limits in the Auckland Coromandel area column. Size is shell length (greatest length in a straight line across the bottom of the shell). Must be landed in the shell; no shucking seaward of mean high-water mark. Limits are separate: 10 ordinary plus 10 yellow-foot. Accumulation limit 20 pāua (both species) or 2.5 kg shucked (multi-day only). Temporary closures: Te Tauroa/Tauroa Peninsula (Ahipara), Waiheke Island (1 nm), Ōmaha Bay/Kawau Bay/Whangaparāoa rock pools (to 200 m offshore), Rehuotane Ki Tai (Tutukaka/Ngunguru), Marsden and Mair Banks. See closures. |
| Central | 125 mm | 5DetailsOrdinary/black-foot: 5 per day, min 125 mm (85 mm within the Taranaki pāua fishery area). Yellow-foot: 5 per day, min 80 mm. Shell length. Must be landed in the shell. Accumulation limit 20 pāua (both species) or 2.5 kg shucked (multi-day only). Closures: Waimārama black-foot pāua ban (supports Ngāi Hapū o Waimārama rāhui) to 22 Dec 2026; Western Taranaki all shellfish except rock lobster to 15 Dec 2026; Tangoiro/Waihirere and Motuoroi all shellfish to 25 Jul 2027; Te Ohooho o Parapara (off Napier) to 7 Aug 2027. No Wellington-area pāua closure is listed on the Central page. |
| Challenger | 125 mm | Varies by sub-areaDetailsBy sub-area. Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough (Kahurangi Point to Clarence Point, per MPI restriction map): ordinary 5 per day min 125 mm, yellow-foot 5 per day min 80 mm. Kaikōura pāua fishery part (Marfells Beach to Clarence Point): open 1 May to 31 August only; ordinary 3 min 130 mm, yellow-foot 3 min 80 mm. All other Challenger areas (West Coast): ordinary 10 min 125 mm, yellow-foot 10 min 80 mm. Makaawhio (West Coast) mātaitai reserves: 5 per person both species combined, min 125 mm black-foot / 80 mm yellow-foot; vessel limit 15 at Paringa and Tauneke/Barn Bay; no take at Okāhu/Jackson Bay, Okuru/Mussel Point, Popotai Taumaka/Open Bay Islands, Mahitahi/Bruce Bay and Ōkārito Lagoon. Shell length. Accumulation: PAU 7 (Nelson/Marlborough) 10 pāua or 1.25 kg shucked; West Coast 20 or 2.5 kg (multi-day only, both species). |
| Kaikōura | 130 mm | 3DetailsKaikōura pāua fishery (Marfells Beach to Conway River, to 4 nm offshore): open 1 May to 31 August only (closed 1 September to 30 April). 3 per day, a single limit covering both species (reg 116A); min 130 mm ordinary, 80 mm yellow-foot. Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure: ordinary 2 min 135 mm, yellow-foot 2 min 80 mm. Shell length. Accumulation (MPI Kaikōura pāua fishery PDF linked from the page): over two or more days, max 6 pāua (both species combined) or 750 g shucked weight, including at home. Always closed to pāua: Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure (Kaikōura Peninsula), Oaro, Mangamaunu and Te Waha o te Marangai mātaitai, Hikurangi Marine Reserve, Waiopuka (Wakatu Quay) reef. South of the Conway River (PAU 3B, Canterbury): ordinary 5 plus yellow-foot 5 per day, min 125/80 mm, accumulation 10 pāua or 1.25 kg shucked, no seasonal closure. |
| South-East | 125 mm | Varies by sub-areaDetailsBy sub-area. Canterbury (Conway River to Waitaki River, PAU 3B): ordinary 5 per day min 125 mm, yellow-foot 5 per day min 80 mm. South of Waitaki River: ordinary 10 min 125 mm, yellow-foot 10 min 80 mm. Kaikōura pāua fishery (Marfells Beach to Conway River): open 1 May to 31 August, ordinary 3 min 130 mm, yellow-foot 3 min 80 mm; Oaro-Haumuri Taiāpure 2/2, 135 mm/80 mm. Timaru mātaitai: 3 combined, 125 mm/80 mm. Lyttelton Harbour/Whakaraupō and Extension mātaitai (outside closed areas): 3 combined, min 130 mm (both species), vessel limit 9 (Ngāti Wheke bylaws, 1 Oct 2026); Rāpaki mātaitai no take. Moeraki mātaitai (outside closed areas): 3 combined, 125 mm/80 mm. East Otago Taiāpure: 0 (no take). Shell length. Accumulation (multi-day only, both species): PAU 3B 10 pāua or 1.25 kg shucked; south of the Waitaki 20 or 2.5 kg; Kaikōura fishery 6 or 750 g; Chatham Rise none set. |
| Fiordland | 125 mm | 5DetailsOrdinary/black-foot: 5 per day outside the Fiords, 2 inside the Fiords (counted within the 5), min 125 mm. Yellow-foot: 2 per day (both inside and outside), min 80 mm. Shell length, measured in a straight line parallel to the underside of the foot, not over the curve. No accumulation beyond one day's limit. Must be landed in the shell; no shucking seaward of mean high-water mark, including in transit on the water. No UBA (except snorkel) when taking pāua or while in possession of pāua. Waitutu mātaitai reserve: all recreational pāua fishing prohibited. |
| Southland | 125 mm | 10DetailsOrdinary: 10 per day, min 125 mm. Yellow-foot: 10 per day, min 80 mm. Shell length. Accumulation limit 20 pāua (both species) or 2.5 kg shucked (multi-day only). Waitutu mātaitai: pāua prohibited (Fiordland page); Pikomamaku (Womens Island) mātaitai: all fishing prohibited. Te Whaka a Te Wera mātaitai (Paterson Inlet): pāua 5 per day, closed around the Bravo Islands. |
Not part of the combined "all others" shellfish limit. Ordinary and yellow-foot daily limits are separate per species (reg 12; RMC Notice cl 5.1). Exceptions: Marfells Beach to Conway River (3) and Oaro-Haumuri (2) are single pāua limits covering both species (regs 116A/116B), and some mātaitai limits are combined. Accumulation limits (multi-day only) count both species together.
Closures in force (24)
Auckland and Kermadec6 closures
- Until 14 October 2028
Te Tauroa / Tauroa Peninsula, Ahipara (Northland): 2-year pāua closure from Te Huahua/Iron Gate to near Hunahuna Stream, 2 km offshore (excludes sandy beach near Hukatere Stream). From 15 Oct 2026.
- Until 6 August 2028
Waiheke Island, within 1 nm (excludes Te Matuku Marine Reserve): mussels, pāua and packhorse rock lobster. Scallops and spiny rock lobster already closed there. From 7 Aug 2026.
- Until 28 June 2028
Marsden Bank and Mair Bank, Whangārei Harbour entrance: all shellfish, including kina, sea cucumbers and packhorse rock lobster (the notice defines shellfish as all echinoderms, molluscs and crustaceans). Pipi, scallop and spiny rock lobster are closed by other measures. From 29 Jun 2026.
- Until 11 March 2028
Ōmaha Bay, Kawau Bay and Whangaparāoa Peninsula: all invertebrates and seaweed in rock pools and out to 200 m offshore, from 12 Mar 2026. Kina excluded (normal limits apply); spiny rock lobster and scallops already closed.
- Until 25 June 2028
Rehuotane Ki Tai (Tutukaka Harbour, Ngunguru Bay, Ngunguru and Horahora Rivers): no taking cockle, crab, garfish, mussel, octopus, pāua, pipi, packhorse rock lobster, rock oyster, sea cucumber, sea horse, sea snail, starfish, tuatua; nets prohibited in harbour/rivers. From 26 Jun 2026.
- No end date
Standing shellfish restrictions (restricted areas list, no end date shown): Cheltenham Beach, Eastern Beach and Karekare Beach no shellfish gathering; Cockle Bay no taking of shellfish; Whangateau Harbour no cockles or pipi; Ngunguru Estuary no pipi and/or cockles; Te Puna mātaitai no green-lipped, blue or black mussels; Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove) no taking of any species except kina.
Central8 closures
- Until 22 December 2026
Waimārama (Hawke's Bay), coastline north and south incl. Te Motu o Kura/Bare Island: no taking of black-foot pāua. Extended ban supporting the rāhui by Ngāi Hapū o Waimārama.
- Until 15 December 2026
Western Taranaki (Tapuae Stream to Taungatara Stream, out 1 nm): all shellfish except rock lobster, seaweed (except beach-cast), sea anemones, stingrays and two conger eel species. From 16 Dec 2024.
- Until 25 July 2027
Tangoiro/Waihirere (Tairāwhiti, near Māwhai Point): all shellfish (incl. rock lobster) and finfish. From 26 Jul 2025.
- Until 25 July 2027
Motuoroi (Anaura Bay, Tairāwhiti): all shellfish (incl. rock lobster) and finfish. From 26 Jul 2025.
- Until 7 August 2027
Te Ohooho o Parapara rāhui: small box approx. 6 km north-east of the Port of Napier; any fish, aquatic life or seaweed. From 8 Aug 2025.
- No end date
Toka Tāmure mātaitai reserve (Māhia Peninsula) bylaws (MPI 599, 2016): no taking of pāua, mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, surf clams, deepwater clams, packhorse rock lobster, sea cucumber, karengo or beach-cast seaweed. Kina closed 1 Mar to 31 Jul; 25 per day 1 Aug to end of Feb. Spiny rock lobster 3 per day; no loops for rock lobster. No UBA for taking fish, shellfish or seaweed.
- No end date
Horokaka mātaitai reserve (Māhia Peninsula) bylaws (MPI 919, 2018): no taking of pāua, mussels, pipi, tuatua, cockles, surf clams, deepwater clams, packhorse rock lobster, sea cucumber, karengo or beach-cast seaweed. Spiny rock lobster closed 1 May to 30 Sep, 3 per day 1 Oct to 30 Apr; no loops. Kina closed 1 Apr to 30 Sep, 25 per day 1 Oct to 31 Mar. No UBA for taking fish, shellfish or seaweed.
- No end date
Te Hoe mātaitai reserve (Māhia Peninsula), Waikokopu to Opoutama section only: no taking of kina, rock lobster (kōura), mussels (kuku) or pāua (MPI 1413, in force 17 Dec 2021).
Kaikōura, Challenger, South-East1 closure
- No end date
Kaikōura pāua fishery: annual closed season 1 September to 30 April (open 1 May to 31 August). Currently closed as at the checked date.
Kaikōura1 closure
- No end date
Closed to pāua at all times (including during the season): Te Taumanu o Te Waka a Māui Taiāpure (Kaikōura Peninsula), Oaro mātaitai, Mangamaunu mātaitai, Te Waha o te Marangai mātaitai; Hikurangi Marine Reserve and Waiopuka (Wakatu Quay) reef closed to all fishing.
Challenger1 closure
- No end date
Makaawhio (West Coast) mātaitai reserves bylaws: pāua no take at Okāhu, Okuru, Popotai Taumaka, Mahitahi and Ōkārito; rock lobster no take at Ōkārito, Manakaiaua, Mahitahi, Tauparikaka and Okuru, max tail width 70 mm and vessel limit 18 elsewhere; mussels no take at Ōkārito; reduced limits (20) or no take for mussels, cockles, pipi and tuatua; any shellfish not listed prohibited.
South-East2 closures
- No end date
Lyttelton Harbour/Whakaraupō and Extension mātaitai: pāua closed at Gollans Bay, north-east Ōtamahua/Quail Island and Livingstone Bay to Godley Head; cockles closed at Walkers Beach (Quail Island) and Rec Bay; no shellfish from whata kaimoana (aquaculture structures); unlisted shellfish prohibited. Rāpaki mātaitai: all shellfish prohibited.
- No end date
Moeraki mātaitai: Tikoraki/Tawhiroko and Turaka Waka areas closed to pāua. East Otago Taiāpure: pāua limit 0.
Fiordland, Southland1 closure
- No end date
Waitutu mātaitai reserve (Wairaurahiri River to Crombie Stream, 450 m offshore): all recreational pāua fishing prohibited.
Southland4 closures
- No end date
Pikomamaku (Womens Island) mātaitai reserve, North Tītī Islands: all fishing prohibited (fish, aquatic life, seaweed).
- No end date
Te Whaka a Te Wera mātaitai reserve (Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island, inside a line from Ackers Point to Bullers Point; Ulva Island marine reserve excluded): pāua closed in the Bravo Islands area (Bravo Island, Gentian Cove coast and 400 m around Tommy, Refuge, Crayfish, Groper and Goat Islands); scallops closed throughout. Elsewhere in the reserve pāua 5 per day; rock lobster pots max 2 per person, 4 per vessel with 2+ people (2006 bylaws).
- No end date
Horomamae mātaitai reserve (waters north and north-east of Horomamae/Owen Island, east Stewart Island): all fish, aquatic life and seaweed closed 1 Jun to 31 Mar (open 1 Apr to 31 May only) (MPI 35, 2012).
- No end date
Kaihuka mātaitai reserve (waters around Kaihuka Island, Breaksea Islands group, east Stewart Island): all fish, aquatic life and seaweed closed 1 Jun to 31 Mar (open 1 Apr to 31 May only) (MPI 37, 2012).
Marine reserves and protected areas: no take57 areas
Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve (Poor Knights Islands, about 22 km off the east coast of Northland (boats launch from Tutukaka); covers the sea 800 m out from all islands, islets, rocks and stacks). Marine reserve, no take: No fishing of any kind, from a boat or from shore; no taking or disturbing any marine life, including shellfish and seaweeds; no taking any part of the sea floor, including rocks and shells; no feeding fish.
Whangārei Harbour Marine Reserve (Two sites in Whangārei Harbour, Northland: Motukaroro (Passage) Island at Reotahi, and the Waikaraka mudflats and mangroves off Whangārei Heads Road). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Goat Island) (Cape Rodney to Okakari Point near Leigh, north of Warkworth, Auckland; waters 800 m from shore including Te Hāwere-a-Maki/Goat Island (pre-extension description)). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve. Extended (Cape Rodney–Okakari Point Extension Marine Reserve) under the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025 from 25 Oct 2025; the old 800 m boundary no longer marks the edge, check the DOC map.
Tāwharanui Marine Reserve (Northern coast of the Tāwharanui Peninsula (Tāwharanui Regional Park), Rodney, about 90 km north of Auckland). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve; no fishing; taking fossils prohibited.
Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve (Long Bay to the Okura estuary, North Shore, about 20 km north of Auckland CBD). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Te Matuku Marine Reserve (Te Matuku Bay, far south-east corner of Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf, extending into Tāmaki Strait). Marine reserve, no take: Fishing, collecting, or disturbing marine organisms and resources are prohibited. Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Mōtū Manawa-Pollen Island Marine Reserve (Inner Waitematā Harbour around Pollen and Traherne Islands, between Rosebank Peninsula and Waterview/Pt Chevalier, Auckland). Marine reserve, no take: Do not take or kill fish, crustaceans, shellfish, seaweed, shells, rocks or any other marine life; don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve (Cathedral Cove to Hahei, Mercury Bay, Coromandel). Marine reserve, no take: No fishing of any kind, from a boat or from shore; no taking or disturbing any marine life, including shellfish and seaweeds; no taking any part of the sea floor, including rocks and shells; no feeding fish. No discharge of waste/ballast/sewage. Extended (Te Whanganui-o-Hei / Cathedral Cove Extension Marine Reserve, Areas A and B) under the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025 from 25 Oct 2025; check the DOC map.
Tūhua (Mayor Island) Marine Reserve (Northern coast of Tūhua/Mayor Island, Bay of Plenty, from high-tide mark to 1 nm offshore between Turanginui Point and Tumutu Point). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve. Reserve covers the northern coast only; elsewhere around the island normal rules apply, with set nets and long lines banned within 1 nm.
Te Paepae o Aotea (Volkner Rocks) Marine Reserve (Volkner Rocks, 5 km north-west of Whakaari/White Island and 55 km north of Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty). Marine reserve, no take: Fishing is not permitted. Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve (Pouawa coast, about 16 km north of Gisborne, East Coast (access from SH35 at Pouawa)). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Te Angiangi Marine Reserve (Central Hawke's Bay coast between Aramoana and Blackhead, about 30 min from Waipukurau/Waipawa). Marine reserve, no take: No fishing, seaweed or shellfish gathering. All plant and animal life, alive or dead, totally protected; reefs and sea floor protected, nothing may be removed. Illegal to discharge firearms or harmful substances, or release non-native species; also an offence to pollute, litter, or erect a structure.
Parininihi Marine Reserve (North Taranaki coast at the Whitecliffs/Parininihi, north of Urenui (road access via Pukearuhe Road), including Pariokariwa reef). Marine reserve, no take: Illegal to take anything, including fish, shellfish, lobster, rocks, shells, driftwood or any other natural feature, plant or animal; don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything. Areas either side were left out of the reserve so customary and recreational fishing continue there.
Tapuae Marine Reserve (Taranaki coast just south-west of New Plymouth, adjoining Ngā Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area). Marine reserve, no take: No-take: no fishing of any kind, no shellfish gathering, no removal of rocks, shells, driftwood or plants; don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything. Adjoins the Ngā Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area, where some fishing is allowed (not a marine reserve).
Kapiti Marine Reserve (Between Kapiti Island and Paraparaumu/Waikanae beaches, Kapiti Coast, about 30 km from Wellington (two areas: inner/eastern and outer/western of the island)). Marine reserve, no take: Fishing within the marine reserve is not permitted. Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Taputeranga Marine Reserve (Wellington south coast around Island Bay and Owhiro Bay, about 6 km from the city centre). Marine reserve, no take: Fishing and the removal or disturbance of any living or non-living marine resource is prohibited (except permitted monitoring/research).
Westhaven (Te Tai Tapu) Marine Reserve (Tidal sandflats and channels at the southern end of Whanganui Inlet, western Golden Bay; inlet entrance 19 km SW of Farewell Spit). Marine reserve, no take: Fishing and shooting are not permitted in the marine reserve. Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Kahurangi Marine Reserve (Far NW South Island (West Coast region), 16 km of coast from Wekakura Point to Crayfish Point, about 5 km offshore; southern half reachable from the Heaphy Track). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve - it's illegal.
Tonga Island Marine Reserve (Abel Tasman National Park coast, Nelson/Tasman, surrounding Tonga Island). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Horoirangi Marine Reserve (North of Nelson on the eastern side of Tasman Bay/Te Tai-o-Aorere, Glenduan to near Cable Bay (Ataata Point)). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve - it's illegal. Fishing is not permitted within the reserve.
Long Island - Kokomohua Marine Reserve (Entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, Marlborough Sounds, about 35 km from Picton; boat access only). Marine reserve, no take: Taking, disturbing, killing or damaging anything within the reserve is illegal.
Punakaiki Marine Reserve (West Coast, edge of Paparoa National Park, around Dolomite Point (Pancake Rocks), Perpendicular Point to near Maher Swamp, out to 2 nautical miles). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve - it's illegal. Exception: eeling, whitebaiting and recreational fishing at river mouths allowed in two defined areas (not shellfish gathering on the reef).
Waiau Glacier Coast Marine Reserve (South Westland, about 11 km from Kohuamarua Bluff (near Ōkārito) south to Omoeroa Bluff, about 4 km offshore, incl. a short way up the Waiho River). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve - it's illegal.
Tauparikākā Marine Reserve (Ship Creek visitor site, about 20 min drive north of Haast, South Westland). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Hautai Marine Reserve (Remote South Westland coast, from just south of Longridge Point about 6 km south to the Hacket River mouth, >1 km offshore; halfway between Jackson Bay and Milford Sound, 60 km from any road). Marine reserve, no take: Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve.
Hikurangi Marine Reserve (About 10 km south of Kaikōura near Goose Bay, extending offshore over the Kaikōura Canyon). Marine reserve, no take: No-take area: you may not remove or disturb any marine life, or take any other material, including shells from the beach, water or seabed.
Pōhatu Marine Reserve (Flea Bay, south-east (outer) coast of Banks Peninsula, Canterbury; 4WD-only land access). Marine reserve, no take: It is not permitted to take any animal or natural item from the reserve (fish, shellfish, shells, seaweed, rocks, driftwood).
Akaroa Marine Reserve (Mouth of Akaroa Harbour, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury; boat or kayak access). Marine reserve, no take: You are not permitted to take any animals or natural items from the reserve (fish, shellfish, shells, seaweed, rocks, driftwood).
Waitaki Marine Reserve (North Otago coast south of the Waitaki River; foreshore access limited (much via private land)). Marine reserve, no take: 'No take' area: all fishing (commercial, recreational, customary), taking or killing marine life, removing or disturbing marine life or materials, feeding fish, discarding fish waste. In force 1 Jul 2026 (Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia network). Only exception is Ngāi Tahu Whānui wānaka (incl. wānaka hī ika with limited take); fish caught outside may be carried through.
Papanui Marine Reserve (Entirely offshore off the Otago Peninsula/Dunedin coast; boat access only). Marine reserve, no take: 'No take' area: all fishing (commercial, recreational, customary), taking or killing marine life, removing or disturbing marine life or materials, feeding fish, discarding fish waste. In force 1 Jul 2026 (Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia network). Only exception is Ngāi Tahu Whānui wānaka (incl. wānaka hī ika with limited take); fish caught outside may be carried through.
Ōrau Marine Reserve (Dunedin coast, Harakeke Point to St Clair; accessible from Otago Peninsula beaches (Sandfly Bay to St Clair)). Marine reserve, no take: 'No take' area: all fishing (commercial, recreational, customary), taking or killing marine life, removing or disturbing marine life or materials, feeding fish, discarding fish waste. In force 1 Jul 2026 (Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia network). Only exception is Ngāi Tahu Whānui wānaka (incl. wānaka hī ika with limited take); fish caught outside may be carried through.
Ōkaihae Marine Reserve (Around Ōkaihae/Green Island, offshore island (nature reserve) on the Otago coast south of Dunedin; boat access only). Marine reserve, no take: 'No take' area: all fishing (commercial, recreational, customary), taking or killing marine life, removing or disturbing marine life or materials, feeding fish, discarding fish waste. Landing on Ōkaihae (Green Island) without DOC permission prohibited. In force 1 Jul 2026 (Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia network). Only exception is Ngāi Tahu Whānui wānaka (incl. wānaka hī ika with limited take); fish caught outside may be carried through.
Hākinikini Marine Reserve (Remote southern Otago coast; limited road access, walk in via Akatore Creek at low tide). Marine reserve, no take: 'No take' area: all fishing (commercial, recreational, customary), taking or killing marine life, removing or disturbing marine life or materials, feeding fish, discarding fish waste. In force 1 Jul 2026 (Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia network). Only exception is Ngāi Tahu Whānui wānaka (incl. wānaka hī ika with limited take); fish caught outside may be carried through.
Ulva Island-Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve (Outer Paterson Inlet/Whaka ā Te Wera, east coast of Stewart Island/Rakiura, around Ulva Island). Marine reserve, no take: Fishing, or taking or disturbing anything that occurs naturally in the reserve; feeding fish; discharging pollutants or ballast water; introducing living organisms. Surrounded by Te Whaka a Te Wera (Paterson Inlet) mātaitai reserve, which has its own bylaws.
Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) Marine Reserve (Northern side of Milford Sound/Piopiotahi from the head of the sound to Dale Point). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound) Marine Reserve (Sutherland Sound, northern Fiordland (shallow-sill entrance)). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve (Inner Bligh Sound/Hāwea, northern Fiordland). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve (Gold Arm, Charles Sound/Taiporoporo). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve (Gaer Arm, Bradshaw Sound (Doubtful Sound complex), incl. Camelot River entrance estuary). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve (The Gut channel, Doubtful Sound/Patea, near Secretary Island). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve (Around Elizabeth Island, inner Doubtful Sound/Patea). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm) Marine Reserve (Entire length of Wet Jacket Arm, Dusky Sound/Tamatea complex). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Taumoana (Five Fingers Peninsula) Marine Reserve (Beside Five Fingers Peninsula at the entrance to Tamatea/Dusky Sound (wave-exposed coast)). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound) Marine Reserve (Long Sound, Preservation Inlet, southern Fiordland). Marine reserve, no take: All marine life is totally protected. No fishing, netting, taking, or killing of marine life. No polluting, disturbance or damage. No removal of any natural thing from the marine reserve.
Aldermen Islands / Te Ruamahua (north) High Protection Area (waters around the northern Aldermen Islands, off Tairua, east Coromandel; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Aldermen Islands / Te Ruamahua (south) High Protection Area (waters around the southern Aldermen Islands, off Tairua, east Coromandel; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Cape Colville High Protection Area (off Cape Colville, northern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula (inside the Cape Colville SPA); boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Kawau Bay High Protection Area (Kawau Bay, north of Auckland (inside the Kawau Bay SPA); boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi). Limited commercial ring-netting (kahawai, grey mullet, trevally, 1 Mar to 31 Aug, authorised existing operators only) is the only fishing exception; it does not apply to recreational fishers.
Mokohīnau Islands High Protection Area (around the Mokohīnau Islands, outer Hauraki Gulf; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Motukawao Islands High Protection Area (around the Motukawao Islands, western Coromandel coast; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Pakatoa and Tarahiki / Shag Island High Protection Area (around Pakatoa and Tarahiki/Shag Islands, east of Waiheke Island; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Rangitoto and Motutapu High Protection Area (around Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, inner Hauraki Gulf; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi). Limited commercial ring-netting (kahawai, grey mullet, trevally, 1 Mar to 31 Aug, authorised existing operators only) is the only fishing exception; it does not apply to recreational fishers.
Slipper Island / Whakahau High Protection Area (around Slipper Island/Whakahau, off Tairua-Pāuanui, east Coromandel; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Te Hauturu-o-Toi / Little Barrier Island High Protection Area (around Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island, outer Hauraki Gulf; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
The Noises High Protection Area (around The Noises islands, north-east of Rangitoto/Motutapu; boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Tiritiri Matangi High Protection Area (around Tiritiri Matangi Island, off Whangaparāoa Peninsula (inside the Tiritiri Matangi SPA); boundary per SO plan in the Act, see DOC map). Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act 2025, in force 25 Oct 2025: no recreational or commercial fishing, including rock lobster and all other shellfish. Customary fishing allowed only with written authorisation from a tangata kaitiaki for a customary purpose (e.g. hui, tangi).
Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve (Rangitāhua): all waters around the islands and rocks out to 12 nautical miles. Marine reserve, no take of any marine life. Visits need a DOC permit.
Before you gather
- Check the MPI shellfish biotoxin alerts for the beach you're going to. Toxins can't be cooked out.
- Check for rāhui, mātaitai and other customary management areas, which can have their own limits or closures.
Checked 23 October 2026 · Source: MPI. Rules and closures change, so check the NZ Fishing Rules app before you gather.
Where it lives in New Zealand
Pāua live on rocky coasts around New Zealand and its offshore islands, including the Chatham Islands. They are found from the intertidal zone down to about 20 m, but most live in water shallower than 10 m, in places with clean water and plenty of surge. Adults can form large groups on shallow reef.
Young pāua settle just below the low-tide mark, then move into the intertidal zone and hide under cobbles and boulders, where they graze small red seaweeds at night. As they grow they move out into open, more exposed spots and feed on drifting brown seaweed, which they trap under the foot. Pāua grow faster on wave-exposed coasts, where there is more drift seaweed and oxygen.
Pāua are most plentiful from the Wairarapa coast south, and around the Chatham Islands, and less common in the north. Kina barrens, sediment and overharvesting can all reduce the food and space pāua need.
How to gather it
Pāua may only be taken by free diving (snorkelling) or from the shore at low tide. You must not use or even have underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) with you while gathering pāua or while you have pāua, including in your vehicle or on your boat.
Measure each pāua as you take it from the rock, not at the end of the dive. Measure the greatest length of the shell in a straight line, with a pāua gauge. Slide a blunt, flat tool (a pāua iron) under the foot in one quick movement before the pāua clamps down. Pāua blood does not clot, so even a small cut can kill one; take care not to damage undersize pāua, and put them straight back on rock, not on sand.
Pāua must be landed in the shell. You can't take the meat out of the shell until you are above the high-tide mark. Daily limits are separate for blackfoot and yellowfoot pāua in most areas, and there are accumulation limits on how many pāua you can hold over a multi-day trip, including at home. See the limits by area above.
Some coasts have closures or a short open season. Kaikōura's pāua fishery was closed after the 2016 earthquakes lifted the seabed and damaged the reef, and reopened in late 2021 with a limited season. It now opens for only part of each year. Other areas, including some mātaitai reserves, taiāpure and temporary closures, are closed to pāua or have lower limits. The closures in force are listed under the rules above. Tangata whenua may also place a rāhui on a stretch of coast, and some rāhui are backed by a temporary closure under the Fisheries Act. Respect a rāhui whether or not it is legally enforced.
Eating
Pāua meat is firm and rich. To clean one, push a blunt knife or spoon between the meat and the shell to cut the muscle free, then pull off the gut. Scrub or trim the black skin if you want a paler result.
Pāua turns tough if it is cooked slowly. Tenderise slices by pounding them, then cook them very quickly over high heat, or mince the meat for fritters, the classic way to eat it. Creamed pāua is minced or sliced pāua gently heated in cream.
If MPI has issued a shellfish biotoxin warning for the area, its warnings usually say pāua can still be eaten only if the gut is completely removed before cooking, because the toxins collect in the gut. Check MPI's shellfish biotoxin alerts (linked in the sources) before eating pāua from a warning area.
Recipes
- Outstanding pāua fritters (Seafood New Zealand)
- Cream paua (RNZ)
Good to know
Pāua are broadcast spawners. Usually once a year, often in late summer or autumn and sometimes after a drop in water temperature or a storm, mature pāua release eggs and sperm into the water through their breathing holes. A female can release 7 or 8 million eggs. The larvae drift for one to two weeks before settling on rock.
Pāua reach maturity at about 60–90 mm shell length, which takes three to five years depending on place, and can live for 20–30 years. Growth varies a lot over short distances with wave exposure, food and crowding. Inside, the gonad is green in females and white in males. Pāua blood is copper based and bluish, and does not clot.
Recreational fishers kept an estimated 253,016 blackfoot pāua and 8,713 yellowfoot pāua in 2022–23, down 41% for blackfoot from 425,661 in 2017–18. Pāua has been managed with individual transferable quota since the 1986–87 season.
Questions
What is pāua?
Pāua is the te reo Māori name for New Zealand's abalone, large sea snails in the genus Haliotis. The one most people gather is blackfoot pāua (Haliotis iris), found only in New Zealand and prized for its meat and its blue-green shell.
How many pāua can I take per person?
It depends on where you are. Daily limits differ between areas, blackfoot and yellowfoot pāua usually have separate limits, and some places have a season or a closure. Check the table above for the current limit in each area and the date we last checked it against MPI.
Can you use scuba to gather pāua?
No. Pāua can only be taken by free diving or from the shore. You can't use underwater breathing apparatus to take pāua, or have it with you while you have pāua.
What's the difference between blackfoot and yellowfoot pāua?
Blackfoot pāua (Haliotis iris) is larger, up to about 20 cm, with a black foot. Yellowfoot pāua (Haliotis australis) grows to only about 11–12 cm and has a yellow foot. They have different minimum sizes.
How do you cook pāua?
Either cook it very fast or mince it. Pound thin slices to tenderise them and sear them for a short time over high heat, or mince the meat for fritters or creamed pāua. Slow or long cooking makes pāua tough.
How do you clean a pāua shell?
Scrub off weed and growth with a stiff brush. To show the colour underneath, Te Papa describes how craftworkers do it: grind the rough outer layer off very carefully on a grinding wheel, then polish the shell with fine wet-and-dry sandpaper and buff it. Wear eye protection and a dust mask when grinding.
