Ōpōtiki’s new harbour marks a major step in regional aquaculture growth
The sight of specialist mussel vessels entering the harbour and tying up at the Ōpōtiki wharf signals the long-anticipated realisation of a project envisioned years ago.
The Ōpōtiki community has worked tirelessly to establish a thriving aquaculture industry in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, and the completion of the new harbour entrance and seawalls marks another major milestone.
These developments sit alongside the construction of a mussel processing facility—now employing more than 230 people—and the deployment of purpose-built vessels servicing the region’s expanding mussel farms.
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says the harbour is a transformative asset for the region, unlocking growth in aquaculture and the wider marine industry.
“This is the first major harbour built in New Zealand in decades. The new walls and dredging have created safe access for mussel boats and other seacraft, as well as enabling greater capacity for future marine expansion in the area,” Mr Jones says.
He notes that its progress reflects the commitment of local leaders, iwi, and councils to create jobs and lift household incomes.
“We first started talking about the vision for the harbour in 2018 and we are now seeing it come to fruition. Ōpōtiki District Council’s early economic modelling predicted the development would generate around $132 million in benefits for New Zealand, and I look forward to seeing that unfold over time.”
Mr Jones says the project also represents a substantial Crown investment in Ōpōtiki and its aquaculture future, supporting the Coalition Government’s goal of increasing annual aquaculture sales from $750 million to $3 billion by 2035.
Whakatōhea Mussels (Ōpōtiki) Ltd Chief Executive Peter Vitasovich says watching company vessels arrive at their new home port is deeply rewarding.
“This project has been a collaborative effort between central, local and regional government, Iwi partners, and commercial operators over many years,” he says.
“Community support for the creation of this new industry—and for the opportunities it’s already generating—has been tremendous.”
The mussel industry is now a major employer in Ōpōtiki, with more than 200 full-time staff and strong expectations for further expansion.
The harbour was delivered through $95.2 million in government funding from the Regional Investment Opportunities Fund and $20 million from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
“This project has been a collaborative effort between central, local and regional government, Iwi partners, and commercial operators over many years”