Our Big Blue Blindspot

As an island nation, the ocean is of great, cultural, economic, and recreational importance here in Aotearoa. You can’t be further than 130km from the ocean at any point in the country, and our maritime area is one of the largest in the world, 15 times larger than our landmass (Walrond, 2012; WWF-New Zealand, 2023). A huge 30% of our biodiversity is reliant upon our marine environment (WWF-New Zealand, 2023), and to some extent, so are we.

In 2023, the marine economy:

• Employed 39,237 people.
• Contributed to 3% of the national economy.
• Generated $7.7 billion over all sectors and industries that support or rely on it (Stats NZ, 2025a).

New Zealanders are proud of our beautiful coasts, and our access and use of these areas is part of our national culture and identity, yet when it comes to protecting them, we are lagging behind.

This is not necessarily because we don’t care, but maybe because many New Zealanders are unaware of how little protection is actually in place. A recent poll commissioned by WWF New Zealand, found that 71% of New Zealanders mistakenly believe that more than 1% of our marine areas are protected (Daalder, 2025). The staggering reality is that, despite our dependence on, and connection to the ocean, we protect less than 0.5% of marine areas (WWF-New Zealand, 2023). It seems that New Zealanders are simply under the impression that we are doing better than we are - we’ve fallen for own ‘clean, green’ marketing.

There is still great support for ocean protection; the same poll found that 55% of people think that at least 15% of marine areas should be protected, while a third of respondents thought that 30% should be protected (Daalder, 2025). This does not at all reflect the reality of our conservation laws. So how did public opinion manage to get so out of sync with our domestic policy? 

Beyond what the public thinks, ocean protection just makes sense. According to the World Resources Institute (n.d.), if sustainably managed, the ocean could:

• Generate 6 times more food globally.
• Produce 40 times more renewable energy than it currently does.
• Significantly reduce global emissions, contributing 35% of necessary reductions to meet the 2050 goals.
• Rebuild ocean economies, lifting millions of people out of poverty.

As a country so invested in our marine environment, imagine the impact this could have for generations to come. 

In 2022, New Zealand signed an international agreement to protect 30% of our marine areas by 2030. According to the agreement, we now have 5 years to increase our marine protected areas by 60 times, from 0.5% to 30%. With the fourth largest marine territory on Earth, New Zealand is a key player amongst the 196 countries who signed the agreement and has an opportunity to be a world leader in this space. (MFAT, n.d.) There are no official penalties for not reaching the 30 by 30 targets, however, not meeting them could have implications for our reputation as a nation, and some think it could impact our other international commitments (Hancock, 2024).

Many of our latest fair-trade agreements have conditions in them that require environmental protections to be upheld.

Trade agreements are designed to make sure that countries don’t have unfair advantages when trading with each other. A government could provide certain subsidies to local industries, or place tariffs on imported goods, meaning local companies are able to sell product cheaper than imported goods—Under a fair-trade agreement, this wouldn’t be allowed. The agreements ensure that the rules each country operates on are aligned, so industries in both have even footing in the market.

The new clauses within fair trade agreements about environmental protection are designed to do the same thing. If a company didn’t have to:

• Pay for specific environmental protection
• Wait months for approval for projects
• Harvest sustainably

It could feasibly produce goods more cheaply than companies in countries with stricter rules.

The international treaties we sign, and agreements we make, are our guide when aligning our conservation policies with our most important trade partners. Without laws that are aligned and upheld, organisations such as Forest & Bird claim we could be breaching some of our fair trade agreements (Hancock, 2024).

New Zealand actually has the world’s first established, fully protected marine reserve. Goat Island Marine reserve was established in 1975 and is a shining example of a successful MPA (marine protected area) (Department of Conservation, n.d.). It is visited by about 300,00 people a year and shows us that we can be, and have been, pioneers of ocean conservation efforts.

As a country, we pride ourselves on being innovative, explorative, and leaders in areas that countries far bigger than us have yet to master. It’s time to apply that energy to caring for our largest environmental asset.

This sea week, consider the importance of the ocean in your life, and what impact a healthy, thriving marine environment could have for your loved ones and future generations to come. Protecting our ocean is not just a job for lawmakers. By learning, sharing, supporting stronger marine protection, and speaking up for change, we can restore and replenish the resource that we all so depend on.

Jai Tarn

Daalder, M. (2025, January 20). Poll finds overwhelming political mandate for protecting oceans. Newsroom. Retrieved from https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/01/20/poll-finds-overwhelming-political-mandate-for-protecting-oceans/?utm

Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Cape Rodney Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Goat Island). New Zealand Department of Conservation. Retrieved from https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/auckland/places/cape-rodney-okakari-point-marine-reserve-goat-island/

Hancock, F. (2024, March 31). ‘Fast Track Bill’ could breach free trade deals, environmentalists claim. RNZ. Retrieved from https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/513066/fast-track-bill-could-breach-free-trade-deals-environmentalists-claim

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (n.d.). Biodiversity and species conservation. New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved  from https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/environment/biodiversity-and-species-conservation

Stats NZ. (2025a). Environmental-economic accounts: Data to 2023. Retrieved from https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/environmental-economic-accounts-data-to2023/

Walrond, C. (2012, September 22). Natural environment – Coasts. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved from  https://teara.govt.nz/en/natural-environment/page-2

WWF-New Zealand. (2023, March 6). Landmark High Seas Treaty agreed. WWF-New Zealand. Retrieved from https://wwf.org.nz/news/oceans/landmark-high-seas-treaty-agreed?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22492295700&gbraid=0AAAAADkwWomm8Vq2dViAxQWsOJb_dztcz&gclid=Cj0KCQiAy6vMBhDCARIsAK8rOgloSJb2jvD8lbYWaoLLl3AxoNhT24xDW6IwpAS6bGvgtrOUJshmfUaAl2AEALw_wcB

World Resources Institute. (n.d.). High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy. World Resources Institute. Retrieved From  https://www.wri.org/initiatives/high-level-panel-sustainable-ocean-economy