Anderton rejects Great Barrier reserve 

A proposal for a marine reserve covering almost 500 square kilometres on the north-east coast of Great Barrier Island has been rejected.

It would have covered 495 square kilometres around the island which is on edge of the Hauraki Gulf.

The Conservation Minister approved the reserve back in 2005 but it required the approval of the Fisheries Minister.

But Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton has turned down the proposal after meeting with residents and local hapu.

He says while it is a magnificent area, it is not in the public interest to create a large no-take marine reserve in a remote area where access to the sea is a large part of life for locals.

Anderton also says there are now other protection options open to the Department of Conservation that were not available when the reserve was first proposed four years ago.

Locals have applauded the decision. They made more than 1,000 submissions during the consultation process and just 11% were in support.

Great Barrier community board chairman Paul Downie saying islanders did not want a marine reserve imposed from Wellington.

He says there is some support for other ideas such as a reduced take, or a series of small marine reserves.