The New Zealand Government has fast-tracked the approval of an open ocean salmon farm project off Stewart Island.
Ngai Tahu Seafood Resources lodged its application for the Hananui Aquaculture Project in November 2025. The government said the approval took around five months following the appointment of an independent expert panel.
"The Hananui project has taken around seven years to progress," said New Zealand Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop. "Ngai Tahu applied for consent under the RMA in 2019, which was later withdrawn. They then reapplied through the Covid-19 fast-track process in 2020. Subsequently, in August 2023, the application was declined."
Minister for Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones said that once Hananui is fully operational, it is projected to produce 14,400 tonnes of salmon per year, generating more than NZ$310 million (US$180 million) in sales.
"This is almost as much salmon as was produced by all of New Zealand’s salmon farms in 2025-2026," said Mr Jones.
The Hananui Aquaculture Project is the first aquaculture project to be approved through the government's fast-track process.