What percentage of New Zealand's territorial sea is currently protected through marine reserves or other marine protected areas, and what targets, if any, has the Government considered for increasing marine protection coverage in New Zealand waters?

Answer

The Department of Conservation advises that 9.66% of New Zealand’s territorial sea is protected in marine reserves, and an additional 3.48% is in other forms of marine protected area, such as high protection areas, seafloor protection areas and several fisheries closures. New Zealand’s recent report to the Convention on Biological Diversity also included protection measures that have been implemented beyond the territorial sea, within the exclusive economic zone. New marine reserves are soon to be established on the south-east Otago coast. Other marine protection measures are also in place in New Zealand’s marine environment (such as marine mammal sanctuaries) that are not counted towards this measure. As I stated in my response to WPQ30732 and 29603 (2025), New Zealand remains committed to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and its component goals and targets, including achieving 30% protection of land and of oceans globally by 2030. While New Zealand has not adopted the 30% by 2030 global target at a domestic level, the government has set national targets that are intended to contribute to the achievement of the global targets of the GBF.