Dropping Seven Million Kūtai into the Hauraki Gulf w/ Chief Executive for the Ngāti Manuhere Settlement Trust, Nicola Macdonald

On the 29th July, 2024, Ngāti Manuhere Settlement Trust, in partnership with Revive our Gulf and the University of Auckland, dropped seven million kūtai, green-lipped mussels, into the Hauraki Gulf.

This comes as part of an initiative to restore the depleted kūtai population in the Hauraki Gulf. It is hoped that restoring these reefs will have a significant positive impact in reversing human-caused damage to the gulf and it's ecosystems.

Kūtai are vital in providing shelter, food, and protection to local species, but their resources have been depleted due to human activities such as dredging.

Producer Josef spoke to the Chief Executive for the Ngāti Manuhere Settlement Trust, Nicola Macdonald, about the initiative, what it means for the Gulf, and how similar schemes can be implemented across Aotearoa.