We look at what a treasure the Hauraki Gulf is, how unique and bio-diverse it is and how abundant it once was. On the doorstep of our largest city, it is a playground for many. But it is in trouble – in fact in trophic collapse. With so many grim reports, why has so little actually been done?

Commercial fishing is often singled out as the main culprit in over-exploitation, but there is a need for healthy protein for New Zealanders. We investigate how commercial catch is monitored, fishing methods that are less damaging to the seafloor and the Quota Management System, which is almost 40 years old, and whether it is still fit for purpose.

New Zealand has a consistently high rate of boat ownership per capita and with the Hauraki Gulf on the doorstep of our biggest city, recreational fishing is a popular past time.

We investigate how the recreational fishing catch is measured by science, whether the fishing limits are too generous and how recreational fishers can fish better. We look into marine reserves, the many forms they can take and the various opinions on them.

Since the removal of forests 150 years ago and ongoing intensive land use, sediment has been going into the Gulf. We look at how councils manage land development and some great new initiatives to help remove sediment with tree planting. We explore Auckland’s 100-year-old sewerage system and why it’s not possible to swim at beaches after heavy rain. We check in on the Central Interceptor upgrade and investigate great new plans for mussel restoration in Okahu Bay.

We look at Te Ao Māori, the Māori world view of the interconnectedness and interrelationship of all living and non-living things. We explore how a mātauranga lens could be applied to marine protection going forward and how traditional and dynamic practices like rāhui are able to move more quickly than government policy to protect certain species.

We look at what other, less destructive uses there could be for the gulf, like tourism and aquaculture. We investigate seafood provenance – why we know and care where our beef, lamb and eggs come from but not our fish. We discuss the sustainable concept of using the whole fish, not just the fillets, and showcase the brilliant Kai Ika project for the good of the community.

Is the environmental mess we find ourselves in due to our drift from nature? We look at our relationship to nature and whether greed is partly responsible for the gulf’s deterioration. And what is being done to save the Hauraki Gulf?

We look at stories of hope, who should be driving the future of environmentalism, what could be achieved and what you can do to play a part in saving this ecological treasure.