- NZ approves first fast-tracked aquaculture project.
- Project could produce 14,400 tonnes of salmon annually.
- Supports country’s NZ$3bn aquaculture goal.
The Hananui Aquaculture Project off Rakiura/Stewart Island will pave the way for what ministers say will be a major expansion of the country’s salmon farming industry.
In a press statement, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop and Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones said the project would bring significant benefits to Southland and New Zealand’s economy.
According to Jones, the project was projected to produce 14,400 tonnes of salmon per year, generating more than NZ$310m in sales and creating 415 to 480 jobs in the region.
“This is almost as much salmon as was produced by all of New Zealand’s salmon farms in 2025-2026,” he said.
Bishop added: “Alongside this approval, our planning reforms will further support Māori commercial aquaculture, including by making it easier for iwi to unlock the potential of Aquaculture Settlement Areas provided for under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act 2004, making the process easier, faster and more efficient.”
Key pillar of growth
New Zealand has an opportunity to capitalise on the rising demand for its king salmon and expanding production capacity would be critical to meeting that demand.
“The global appetite for our king salmon is extremely high, representing a massive opportunity for New Zealand. To take full advantage of it we need to increase supply to meet this demand, and the approval of Hananui is an incredibly positive step in this direction.”
The development, proposed by Ngāi Tahu Seafood Resources Limited, is the 31st project approved under the government’s Fast-track process and the first aquaculture venture approved through the New Zealand government’s fast-track process.
According to Bishop, this project has been seven years in the making. Ngāi Tahu first applied for consent in 2019, which was later withdrawn. A later attempt was declined in 2023.
“Fast-track approval means these projects can proceed sooner, supporting jobs, regional growth, and export earnings, as well as New Zealand’s position as a leader in sustainable seafood production,” said Jones.
The approval aligns with the government’s ambition to grow aquaculture into a NZ$3bn (US$1.76bn) annual industry by 2035 under the New Zealand Aquaculture Development Plan 2025-2030.
Jones added that open-ocean farming would be key to achieving its ambitious target.
According to the government, it has already invested NZ$11.72m (US$6.87m) in a project to boost open ocean aquaculture around New Zealand.
“This government has made aquaculture growth a focus, setting a $3 billion annual revenue target for the sector by 2035. A key pillar to achieving this goal identified in our Aquaculture Development Plan is large-scale open-ocean farming such as Hananui.”
