The Hauraki Gulf is getting a makeover – though most people won’t get to see it.

The Revive our Gulf Trust has been laying mussel beds in the harbour – around three and a half million mussels so far – as they attempt to bring back an important environmental cleaner. 

Trust chairman John Laurence says in the past, most people did not realise how important the gulf’s mussel beds were, and the area was heavily dredged for about 50 years which caused the collapse of the beds.

The 63 tonnes of mussels needed to kick start the restoration have been donated by North Island Mussels Ltd from shellfish that didn’t meet the size requirement for supermarket supply.

– Newstalk ZB