Planning for Marine Protected Areas

1.1 Introduction

The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy contains a Government objective to build a comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). By using a range of protective measures, a fullyrepresentative range of New Zealand’s marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats are to beprotected. Government’s “Marine Protected Areas: Policy and mplementation Plan” (2005) states that the aim is to have 0% of New Zealand’s marine environment with some form of protection by 20 0. One representative example of each habitat or ecosystem type is to be protected in a marine reserve.

The resulting MPA network aims to protect both representative areas and areas that are
outstanding or rare. A range of measures will be used, including marine reserves, Fisheries Act regulations and the Resource Management Act2. Planning and developing New Zealand’s marine protected area network will involve a range of central and local government agencies, marine and coastal area users, tangata whenua, and those with an interest in the marine environment.

A regional forum (the West Coast Marine Protection Forum) has been established with people from the West Coast community and other stakeholders, to make recommendations on areas for marine protection. This is so that sites and protection measures can be identified by the same communities that will be using and enjoying the marine protected areas.

1. Dept of Conservation and Ministry of Fisheries, 2005.
2. Dept of Conservation and Ministry of Fisheries, 2005.

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