Aotearoa has entered a new chapter in marine conservation with the official launch of five new marine reserves along the south-east coast of Te Waipounamu, creating the country’s first mainland marine reserves in the region and establishing a historic co-management partnership between Kāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation.
The new network of protected areas, known collectively as Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia, expands mainland marine reserve protection by more than 300 square kilometres, increasing Aotearoa’s marine reserve coverage by almost 50 percent.
The milestone has been celebrated by conservation groups, iwi, environmental advocates and government representatives after more than a decade of planning and consultation.
Forest & Bird joined Kāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation at the official launch ceremony, recognising the achievement as one of the most significant advances in marine conservation in recent years.
The reserves are the result of years of collaboration involving iwi, community groups, scientists, environmental organisations and successive governments. While the formal process began in 2014, advocacy for stronger marine protection in the region stretches back much further.
What makes the initiative particularly significant is its governance model.
For the first time in Aotearoa, marine reserves will be jointly managed through a partnership between Māori and the Crown. Kāi Tahu and the Department of Conservation will share responsibility for decision-making, ranger operations and stewardship of the reserves under the principles of kaitiakitanga.
The co-management arrangement is being recognised as an important step in embedding Te Tiriti-based conservation practices into the management of public conservation areas, combining mātauranga Māori with modern conservation science.
The five marine reserves protect a diverse range of ecosystems including coastal reefs, estuaries, river mouths, tidal lagoons and offshore habitats that support some of Aotearoa’s most iconic wildlife.
Species expected to benefit include the toroa, or northern royal albatross, pakake or New Zealand sea lion, kororā or little penguin, and the nationally endangered hoiho, the yellow-eyed penguin.
Conservationists say protecting these habitats will strengthen breeding, feeding and migration areas while improving the long-term resilience of marine ecosystems facing growing pressures from climate change, pollution and habitat degradation.
Forest & Bird described the launch as a powerful example of what can be achieved when communities, iwi and government work together toward a shared vision of protecting te taiao for future generations.
The whakataukī chosen to mark the occasion, Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi — when the old net is worn out, a new net is cast — reflects both the passing of knowledge between generations and a renewed commitment to caring for the moana.
The establishment of Te Au Roa o Te Rakihouia is expected to serve as a model for future conservation partnerships across Aotearoa, demonstrating how co-governance and kaitiakitanga can work together to protect the country’s unique natural heritage.
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