Gentle reminder for whitebaiters to help look after flood protection structures

With whitebaiting season officially underway, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council is reminding fishers to enjoy the season responsibly while helping to look after important flood protection infrastructure. 

Regional Council Rivers and Drainage Operations Manager, Dan Batten, says the Council welcomes people making the most of the season, but asks that they take care not to interfere with flood protection structures when setting up or fishing. 

“We know whitebaiting is an important cultural tradition for many people and we want everyone to be able to enjoy it. At the same time, it’s really important that flood protection structures such as floodgates, culverts and stopbanks are not damaged or obstructed,” he says. 

“From time to time, we’ve seen fishers interfering or tampering with floodgates which can stop the gates working properly. That creates a risk when we get heavy rain and need those gates to protect nearby communities.” 

Under the Regional Natural Resources Plan, whitebait stands upstream of the coastal marine area are a permitted activity, provided they meet certain conditions. These include: 

• Getting permission from the landowner 
• Making sure the structure is stable, fixed and maintained 
• Positioning the structure at least 20 meters from floodgates, culverts, bridges, stopbanks or confluences 
• Minimising disturbance to the riverbed and avoiding the release of contaminants into the water 

He says the Regional Council’s main focus is to ensure stands and fishing activities don’t cause harm to the environment or interfere with flood protection assets. 

“Our flood protection network plays a vital role in keeping people, property and farmland safe. A little extra care from fishers goes a long way in helping us maintain that protection.” 

The Regional Council is also encouraging fishers to follow good practice, such as using the same access track to help protect riverbanks, seeking landowner permission before crossing private land, and being mindful that whitebait numbers are in decline. 

The 2025 whitebaiting season runs from 1 September to 30 October, with fishing permitted between 5am and 8pm (standard time) or 6am and 9pm (daylight saving time). 

For more information on whitebaiting in the Bay and flood protection infrastructure, visit Whitebaiting in the Bay