Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastal marine area is a unique and irreplaceable public resource - ecologically rich, culturally significant, and legally protected as a commons.
It is our view that the management of this area must reflect a shared responsibility to current and future generations, uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and protect the integrity of coastal ecosystems.
WWF-New Zealand urges the Government to reconsider its current proposals and commit to a marine management system that serves not just economic interests, but the long-term wellbeing of all New Zealanders and the ecosystems we depend on.