Call on Aotearoa New Zealand’s Government to Protect its Ocean

Call on the Government to protect 30% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s ocean by 2030.

What you need to know

Aotearoa New Zealand’s ocean territory is one of the largest in the world — yet staggeringly, less than 1% of it is highly protected.

These waters are home to some of the planet’s most unique and threatened marine life: nearly half of all whale and dolphin species, the highest diversity of seabirds anywhere on Earth, and the Māui dolphin — one of the rarest marine mammals, with only around 54 left in the world.

But pollution, overfishing, and climate change are pushing marine ecosystems in Aotearoa to the brink. And instead of stepping up, the government has rolled back key protections, putting critical progress in jeopardy.

Scientists agree that protecting at least 30% of the ocean is one of the most important actions we can take to restore marine ecosystems, help wildlife recover, and build resilience to climate change.

Protecting Aotearoa’s unique biodiversity for future generations will take collective action from all of us. The ocean is deeply connected to life and culture: more than half of New Zealanders live within 5km of the coast, and tangata whenua (Indigenous Māori communities) have long maintained deep relationships with the ocean, continuing to exercise kaitiakitanga (guardianship) today.

As New Zealand heads to a General Election on 7 November 2026, we stand at a critical juncture. New Zealanders have made it clear they want healthy oceans, thriving wildlife, and end to destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling in vulnerable habitats.

We now need political leaders from all parties to step up with bold commitments for our ocean.

What happens next

Your signature adds weight to a growing global call for action. Together, we can help ensure ocean protection becomes a political priority in Aotearoa New Zealand — especially ahead of the country’s next general election in 2026.