19/10/2023
New Marine Reserves announced in the South Island
Hākaimangō-Matiatia Marine Reserve must be next!
Six new marine reserves, in the south-east of the South Island were announced on Thursday 5 October.
The agreement, more than a decade in the making, will increase mainland reserves by more than 60%(615 km2 to about 1,011 km2). This includes establishing New Zealand’s largest ever marine reserve (excluding offshore islands), Papanui, which is 165km2.
Forest & Bird Otago/Southland Regional Conservation Manager, Chelsea McGaw says not only will all six reserves protect marine ecosystems, and the vulnerable species that use these wild places, but they will also ensure river mouths, estuaries and tidal lagoon/salt marsh habitats are protected, not just ‘the ocean’ – which is what people think when they hear marine reserves.
"Establishing six new marine reserves is welcome news to Forest & Bird and to the thousands of people who’ve submitted in favour of these reserves over the past 10 years – they will become outstanding places for generations of Kiwis to explore and enjoy,” Ms McGaw says.
“However, the job isn’t done yet because it fails to meet the Marine Protection Area (MPA) policy and New Zealand’s international obligations.
“The six marine reserves will protect only 4.05% of the entire Southeast Marine Protection Forum SEMPF area; there are no marine reserves proposed for either the biodiversity-rich, but vulnerable Catlins region, or the significant biogenic habitats associated with the Hay Paddock, off Ōamaru.
“Essentially the reserves don't adequately represent the full range of unique habitats found in southeastern Aotearoa New Zealand – for example, they do not protect the full extent of hoiho yellow-eyed penguin habitat or their foraging area, one of the world’s rarest penguins.”
“Last year at the COP15 summit in Montréal, NZ signed up to the ‘30x30’ initiative to protect 30% of land and of ocean by 2030. We’ve got a very, very long way to go to ensure 30% of oceans in Aotearoa are protected in the next six years,” Ms McGaw says.
“This is one step towards that, but our efforts will need to be accelerated.”
The new marine reserves will come into force following an Order in Council and gazettal process, likely to be completed by mid-2024.
The six new marine reserves are:
— Waitaki Marine Reserve, 101 sq km
— Te Umu Kōau Marine Reserve, 88 sq km
— Papanui Marine Reserve, 168 sq km
— Ōrau Marine Reserve, 29 sq km
— Ōkaihae Marine Reserve, 5 sq km
— Hākinikini Marine Reserve, 6 sq km
See the DOC website
In October 2023 the Minister of Conservation announced six new marine reserves will be established along the southeast coast of the South Island from Timaru to Waipapa Point in Southland.
