A Taranaki man has been sentenced to 40 hours' community service for taking excess and undersized paua.
Russell Gibbs appeared in the New Plymouth District Court on Thursday for taking 39 paua, including 19 under the legal size.
A more serious charge of taking the paua from a marine reserve was dismissed by the judge.
Mr Gibbs says he and his three children were collecting the paua for a hui being held by the local Poutama iwi with which he is affiliated.
