The 2016 earthquakes forced the closure of the fishery, after causing significant seabed uplift and damage to the marine habitat.
It will remain open until February next year and will be closely monitored.
A cautious reopening will mean new rules and bag limits for gathering paua along Kaikoura's coastline.
The rules include a daily limit of five blackfoot paua per person and a minimum legal size of 125 millimetres.
