UPDATE February 2008

After considering the submissions received in the June 2007 consultation, the Ministers of Conservation and Fisheries are pleased to release the finalised Marine Protected Areas: Classification, Protection Standard and Implementation Guidelines.

Marine Protected Areas: Classification, Protection Standard and Implementation Guidelines (PDF, 2,770K)

Marine Protected Areas Policy and Implementation Plan

The Marine Protected Areas Policy and Implementation Plan was released by the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Fisheries in January 2006.

View the Marine Protected Areas Policy and Implementation Plan (PDF, 820KB)

You can also download a low resolution version (PDF, 158KB)

The plan is also summarised in the Marine Protected Areas: A new approach to marine protection brochure.

View the Marine Protected Areas: A new approach to marine protection brochure (PDF)

Inside the Marine Protected Areas Policy and Implementation Plan

• Executive Summary
• Commonly Used Terms
• Marine Protected Areas Policy – Introduction
  • New Zealand Commitment to Marine Biodiversity
  • Contribution of other Marine Management Initiatives to Marine Biodiversity Protection
• MPA Policy
  • MPA Policy Objective
  • MPA Definition
  • MPA Policy Scope
  • MPA Policy Responsibilities
  • Integrating Marine Management Tools to Build an MPA Network
• MPA Policy – Implementing Principles
  • Network Design Principles
  • Planning Principles
• MPA Policy Implementation Plan
  • Stage One, Preparation for Implementation
  • Stage Two, Strategic Analysis
  • Stage Three, Development of an MPA network
  • Stage Four, Monitoring and Evaluation

Executive Summary

This document sets out the policy and implementation plan to protect New Zealand’s marine biodiversity by establishing a comprehensive and representative network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

The Government is committed to ensuring that New Zealand’s marine biodiversity is protected, and the MPA Policy is a key component of this commitment. The MPA Policy objective is to:

Protect marine biodiversity by establishing a network of MPAs that is comprehensive and representative of New Zealand’s marine habitats and ecosystems.

Key components of the MPA Policy are:

i. A consistent approach to classification of the marine habitats and ecosystems

Classification of marine habitats and ecosystems will help to ensure the MPA network is representative. The policy is based on an approach to classification that incorporates best available scientific information and which is approved by Ministers. This consistent approach to classification will be applied to the marine environment as part of the MPA planning process.

ii. Mechanisms to co-ordinate a range of management tools

These include: a protection standard that will be used to assess whether individual management tools or a combination of management tools provide sufficient protection to a site for it to be designated as an MPA; and planning processes that enable a multi-agency approach to MPA planning for both nearshore and offshore MPAs.

iii. Inventory to identify areas where MPAs are required

An inventory will be taken of existing marine areas that have some level of protection, and the extent to which those areas cover representative habitats and ecosystems
(based on the classification of habitats and ecosystems) will be assessed. The protection standard will be used to determine whether existing areas have sufficient protection to be designated as MPAs. The inventory of MPAs will be continually updated as new areas are protected.

iv. A nationally consistent basis for planning and establishing new MPAs

The MPA Policy outlines processes for MPA planning that are based on a common approach to habitat and ecosystem classification and which are directed by the priorities identified in the inventory process. Planning for offshore MPAs will be implemented at a national level, while planning for nearshore MPAs will be implemented at a regional level. Both the nearshore and offshore processes will be designed to allow for constructive engagement with tangata whenua, user groups, and the public to ensure that MPA planning is inclusive, without compromising biodiversity protection objectives. Both processes will be underpinned by a commitment to minimise the adverse impacts of new MPAs on existing users of the marine environment and Treaty settlement obligations.

Contacts

If you have any questions you can email: mpa@biodiversity.govt.nz

or contact:

Department of Conservation
PO Box 10-420
Wellington 6143
Telephone: 04 471 0726

Ministry of Fisheries
PO Box 10-20
Wellington
Telephone: 04 470 2600