Ngatiwai is a tribe located on the east coast of Northland, New Zealand. An coastal and seagoing tribal authority, Ngatiwai has held intergerational sovereingn authority over their oceans and coastline, with historical accounts of their places of significance and connection through their language and traditions of protection and their recognised customary rights across their marine spaces. As an advocate of traditional practices to replace marine environments, this presentation will provide an indigenous reframing of marine reserves and the way in which indigenous coastal tribes manage marine resources and address legislation that marginalises them from their control and management of their natural marine heritage.