Hananui Aquaculture Project

Project summary

Develop a finfish marine farm, including:

• Four separate marine farms each consisting of two blocks of approximately 10 circular net pens

• installing approximately five anchored barges as operational bases.

Project location

2,500 hectares within the coastal marine area, two to six kilometres north of the Stewart Island/Rakiura coastline, 13 kilometres northwest of Oban, Southland.

Project listing application

Hananui Aquaculture Project application – Ministry for the Environment website

Completeness decision

The substantive application by Ngāi Tahu Seafood Resources Limited was deemed complete on 17 December 2025. The application complies with the requirements of section 46 (2) of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. The application was lodged on 26 November 2025.

Memorandum on Completeness and Scope (PDF, 2.5MB)

Decision on completeness and scope – Hananui Aquaculture Project (PDF, 86KB)

Competing applications decision

The substantive application by Ngāi Tahu Seafood Resources Limited was deemed to not have any competing applications or existing resource consents on 21 January 2026. This decision is required under section 47 of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024. 

Record of decision on competing applications - Hananui Aquaculture Project substantive application (PDF, 86KB)

Decision of appointment of panel and timing of panel decisions

On 2 March 2026, the panel convener issued a Minute regarding:

• the appointment of the expert panel

• the timeframe for panel decisions for the Hananui Aquaculture project under clause 2 of section 79 of the Act.

The minute can be viewed on the Correspondence page for the Hananui Aquaculture project.

Correspondence