The easiest way is to text the automated information line run by the Ministry of Primary Industries – this will tell you the minimum size and the catch limit for a particular species. Just text the name of the species in your message – just “paua” for example (it doesn’t work if you spell it “pāua”) – and send it to 9889.
Note: You’ll be allowed to take more than the daily limits if you’re gathering for hui or tangihanga and you’ve got written permission from a formal representative of local tangata whenua (see the chapter “A death in the family”, under “Funerals and tangihanga”).