Maketū Fishing: Estuary, Beaches and the Taiāpure

Last updated November 2026

Maketū is a seaside settlement on Okurei Point, east of Pāpāmoa in the Western Bay of Plenty, beside the Maketū Estuary, Te Awa o Ngatoroirangi. Surfcasting from its beaches and launching from its boat ramps are local favourites, and Okurei Point is the only major rocky reef between Mount Maunganui and Whakatāne.

The whole coast here sits inside the Maketū Taiāpure, which has its own rules for green-lipped mussels and pāua. This guide covers the estuary, Okurei Point and the Maketū beaches; the lower Kaituna River and the Te Tumu Cut have their own guide.

Maketū at a Glance

Location

Maketū, on Okurei Point, east of Pāpāmoa, Western Bay of Plenty

Type

Estuary, sandy beaches and the Okurei Point rocky reef

Water

Maketū Estuary and the open Bay of Plenty coast (sea)

Fishing

Surfcasting from the beaches; boat access from the ramps

Boat ramps

Park Road ramp in Maketū; Ford Road ramp near the spit

Taiāpure

Maketū Taiāpure: local rules for green-lipped mussels and pāua

Wildlife

NZ dotterels nest on Maketū Spit

Tide port

Kaituna River Entrance (LINZ)

Rules

MPI Auckland and Kermadec; no licence needed for sea fishing

Cost

Free

What to Expect

Maketū is the traditional landing place of the Te Arawa canoe, and most of its people are Ngāti Whakaue. The township sits on Okurei Point, also called Town Point, overlooking the estuary to the west and three sandy beaches.

From above, the town spreads over the point, with the estuary running west behind a long sand spit and its channel breaking out to sea at the mouth.

For decades most of the Kaituna River ran straight to sea through the Te Tumu Cut, made in 1956. After years of calls from the community, the regional council’s Kaituna re-diversion opened on 12 February 2020: up to 20 percent of the river’s flow now returns to the estuary through gated culverts under the Ford Road bridge, and a 20 hectare wetland, Te Pā Ika, was created.

The Maketū Taiāpure, set up in 1996 and run with the Maketū Taiāpure Committee, covers about 60 km of coast centred on Okurei Point, from Wairakei in the west to Ōtamarākau in the east. A rāhui closed it to mussel and pāua harvest in 2001, and special recreational rules for green-lipped mussels and pāua have applied since 1 October 2013.

How to Fish Maketū

Beaches and the estuary

Surfcasting from the Maketū beaches is popular, and the Kaituna Cut to the west is also well known locally for fishing and surfcasting. A local fishing column has reported good snapper for beach anglers along the coast between Pukehina and Matatā.

The estuary channel runs out past the spit to the sea; fish the beach either side of the mouth rather than wading the channel.

Okurei Point

The rocky reef off Okurei Point is unusual on this sandy coast. It is the reef the taiāpure’s mussel and pāua rules were made to protect, so check the current limits before gathering anything.

What to catch

• Snapper: reported by beach anglers along this stretch of coast.
• Pipi: the estuary is known for pipi; check health warnings before gathering.
• Local advice: ask at a Tauranga tackle shop for what has been caught at Maketū recently.

Getting There and Facilities

• Driving: Maketū is signposted from SH2 east of Tauranga.
• Boat ramps: the Park Road ramp at Park Road Reserve in Maketū, and the Ford Road ramp, upgraded in 2020, which gives access to the spit and the Te Tumu Cut.
• Beaches: Maketū has three sandy beaches. Newdicks Beach, to the east, is reached over private land with a toll.
• Dogs: the Western Bay of Plenty District Council has dog rules for Maketū’s beaches. Check its Maketū dog map before you go, and keep dogs well away from the dotterel nesting areas on the spit.

Rules and Safety

• Sea fishing follows MPI’s Auckland and Kermadec rules. No licence is needed.
• Maketū is inside the Maketū Taiāpure, which has its own recreational rules for green-lipped mussels and pāua. Check MPI’s rules before gathering shellfish.
• Within 500 metres of a river mouth, Fish & Game freshwater rules apply to trout.
• Toi Te Ora has a permanent warning against collecting or eating shellfish at Little Waihi, east of Maketū. Check current health warnings before gathering anywhere in the estuary.
• Endangered NZ dotterels nest on Maketū Spit. Keep to the shoreline and give nests a wide berth.
• Take care around the estuary mouth, where the channel can run strongly on the tide.

Tackle and Bait Nearby

• Top Catch Bait & Tackle Tauranga, 40 Mirrielees Road: bait and tackle.
• Top Catch Bait & Tackle Mount Maunganui, 147 Totara Street: bait and tackle on the way from the Mount.
• Hunting & Fishing Tauranga, 19 Bethlehem Road: tackle and licences.

Further Reading

Common Questions

Can I fish at Maketū?
Yes. Surfcasting from the beaches and launching from the boat ramps are popular, and the Kaituna Cut nearby is known for fishing.

What is the Maketū Taiāpure?
A local fishery area set up in 1996, covering about 60 km of coast centred on Okurei Point. It has its own recreational rules for green-lipped mussels and pāua.

Where are the boat ramps at Maketū?
At Park Road Reserve in Maketū, and at Ford Road near the spit and the Te Tumu Cut.

Can I collect shellfish at Maketū?
Check first. The taiāpure has special mussel and pāua rules, and there is a permanent shellfish warning at Little Waihi to the east.

Do I need a licence?
Not for sea fishing. Trout near river mouths need a Fish & Game licence.

What changed in the Maketū Estuary in 2020?
The Kaituna re-diversion opened, returning up to 20 percent of the river’s flow to the estuary through culverts under Ford Road.

Are there dotterels at Maketū?
Yes. Endangered NZ dotterels nest on the spit, so keep clear of nesting areas and keep dogs away.

Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.

Sources and data notes 1

• Tides today: Tide predictions: LINZ (CC BY 3.0 NZ).