Government Funds $4.5M Mussel Spat Nursery to Boost NZ Greenshell Industry

The government is supporting the establishment of a mussel spat nursery in Houhora Bay, Northland to help boost supply for New Zealand’s Greenshell mussel industry, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson says.

The New Zealand mussel industry is a high value food and export sector that relies heavily on wild-caught spat. That supply is often unpredictable leading to shortages and limiting the ability of our mussel farmers to fully utilise their consented marine space, Mr Patterson says.

This $4.5 million Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) loan will help overcome barriers to growth in the sector and make New Zealand’s spat supply more reliable.

Te Hiku Aquaculture Mussel Spat Project will be delivered by Akau, a special purpose vehicle formed by four iwi which includes Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto and Ngāti Kahu. Te Aupōuri Fisheries Management Limited will lead the nursery development on behalf of the collective.

The iwi partners are contributing $1.3 million in co-funding.

The nursery will include up to 150 mussel lines, developed in stages. The first stage will establish 90 lines which are expected to produce around 700 tonnes of spat per year. The nursey will improve survival rates before mussels are transferred to farms nationwide.

The project is expected to deliver long-term returns for the five iwi partners, and create around 10 jobs during construction and five permanent roles once operational.

This investment aligns with the Government’s Aquaculture Development Plan, which aims to grow the industry to $3 billion in annual revenue by 2035, Mr Patterson says.

The project is progressing through the Fast-track consent process as part of the broader Muriwhenua Aquaculture application. Securing consent is a condition that must be met before any loan funding is drawn down for the project.