New Zealand opens marine reserves with groundbreaking Māori co-management model

DUNEDIN, Aotearoa New Zealand — In 2015, then Prime Minister John Key announced plans to establish a vast marine protected area (MPA) in New Zealand's northern waters, intended to surpass the country's land mass in size. Known as the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary, this no-take zone would have set a precedent for global conservation. However, the sanctuary proposal was met with resistance from Māori groups, who highlighted Māori fishing rights dating back decades and demanded a more significant role in ocean governance.

Due to inadequate consultation with these groups, the sanctuary plan ultimately failed to materialize.

Despite this setback, a bottom-up approach to marine governance was gaining momentum in New Zealand's far southeast. Recognizing the importance of localized involvement, Māori leaders collaborated with governmental bodies to develop a system of smaller MPAs. On July 1, 2026, five of these reserves came into existence, officially recognized as the first of their kind in the nation.

Co-managed by the Kāi Tahu tribe (also known as Ngāi Tahu in standard Māori) and the Department of Conservation, this network of marine protected areas is a groundbreaking example of shared decision-making and joint marine ranger management.

The network, named Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia, encompasses five distinct areas that protect a range of marine habitats. These include seabed ecosystems, offshore canyons, rocky reefs, tidal lagoons, and kelp forests. This innovative approach to marine conservation has the potential to set a precedent for other countries, demonstrating the value of Indigenous involvement in ocean management and the successful integration of Māori knowledge and practices into global conservation efforts.