New polling by Horizon Research reveals 90% of New Zealanders want bottom trawling limited in some form and more than half (55%) support a complete ban in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana.
The survey reveals 47% of Kiwis identify bottom trawling as the top threat to the marine environment - up from 37% in similar polling commissioned by WWF-New Zealand in 2024.
Restricting bottom trawling is also now the top action New Zealanders want the Government to take to protect the ocean, alongside creating more Marine Protected Areas. 81% of Kiwis want to see marine protection expanded.
WWF-New Zealand says the survey is timely ahead of the election – with 71% of New Zealanders saying a political party’s policies on protecting the ocean are important when deciding their vote, and 34% saying they would change their vote as a result – up from 27% in 2024.
At the same time, concern about ocean health is deepening, with the proportion of New Zealanders who are very concerned rising from 27% in 2024 to 33%.
WWF-New Zealand spokesperson Caitlin Owers says this shows ocean issues could feature more significantly this election – and parties have a clear public mandate.
“David Attenborough’s incredible ocean film, Jono Ridler’s epic swim across the North Island, and significant public opposition to recent fisheries reforms have put ocean issues firmly in the spotlight far earlier than we’ve seen in previous election years.
“After three years of backroom deals with industry and controversial decisions like allowing commercial fishing in protected areas of the Hauraki Gulf and scrapping undersize catch limits, it’s clear that patience is wearing thin.
“This election, New Zealanders are paying close attention to what’s on the table when it comes to ocean protection, and political parties have been given a clear public mandate to take ambitious action.”
WWF says the findings also highlight a growing disconnect between public expectations and the reality of ocean protection in New Zealand.
“The gap between our identity as an ocean nation and what we’re actually doing is significant.
“Less than 1% of our ocean territory is highly protected, we’re the last country still bottom trawling on vulnerable seamounts in the South Pacific, marine mammals are dying in so-called ‘sanctuaries’, and we’ve allowed commercial fishing in protected areas of the Hauraki Gulf. Our ocean record is shameful.
“Even with cost-of-living pressures front of mind, New Zealanders still expect action to protect the ocean. The public mandate is clear – now we need to see that matched by political action,” says Owers.
Ahead of the General Election, WWF-New Zealand will be calling on all political parties to commit to its 10 ‘Actions for a healthy ocean’, including protecting at least 30% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s ocean through high-quality, Treaty-consistent marine protection; phasing out bottom trawling in vulnerable marine habitats; and reviewing New Zealand’s fisheries management system.