Marine Reserves
Taking on water - marine protection in Aotearoa
New Zealand once led the world in marine protection. Now it looks like we will fail to meet our international promise to protect 30 percent of our ocean estate by 2030. Why is stopping fishing so… Audio
Conservation benefits
Creating safe spaces for wildlife to thrive means benefit for the local community too. This week, two stories on that theme. Audio
Controver-seas: reservations about marine reserves
Science communication student Amy Archer, from the University of Otago, investigates recommendations from the South-East Marine Protection Forum for marine reserves on the Otago coast. Audio
Lacey Malarky: tracking fishy boats
International conservation group Oceana has released a report on boats that it says suspiciously turn off their tracking devices when they're near protected marine areas. Two researchers sifted… Audio
Otago marine reserves forum fails to get consensus
The South-East Marine Protection Forum met for three years to identify areas to protect the coast between Timaru and Waipapa Point in Southland. It's handing in two competing plans. Video, Audio
Hundreds of submissions on potential Otago marine reserves
A group set up to find sites for the first marine parks on the Otago coast has received 2800 submissions.
Otago's first marine reserve in the works
The public is being asked to share its views on increasing marine protection along the South Island's southeast coast.
T.A. Sayers
It's been more than four years since the cargo ship Rena smashed into the Astrolabe Reef off the coast of Tauranga in New Zealand's worst ever maritime disaster. Now a coalition of conservationists… Audio
Government panned for breaking EEZ promise
Environmental groups have panned the Government's rationale for breaking its promise to allow marine reserves up to 200 miles from New Zealand's coast. Audio
A new future for marine protected areas in New Zealand
Environment Minister Nick Smith is championing new legislation for marine protected areas, and Raewyn Peart from the Environmental Defence Society has some thoughts on its strengths and weaknesses. Audio
Fears marine reserve undermines māori rights
Māori are demanding assurances that customary fishing rights will not be extinguished by plans to create marine protected areas. Audio
Maori seek reassurance on customary rights
Maori are demanding assurances customary fishing rights will not be extinguished by plans to create marine protected areas.
Commercial fishing to continue in marine reserves
Commercial fishers will still be allowed to fish inside newly proposed recreational marine parks, and could be compensated for any business lost.
Bill Ballantine: New Zealand's pioneer of marine conservation
A tribute to Bill Ballantine, New Zealand's tireless campaigner for the protection of our oceans, who died this week at the age of 78. Audio, Gallery
Bill Ballantine - Kermadec Marine Sanctury
Marine biologist and the man behind New Zealand's first marine reserve Bill Ballantine responds to the announcement of the formation of one of the world's largest marine sanctuaries in the Kermadec… Audio
Kermadec region becomes an open ocean sanctuary
This week, the government announced the creation of the Kermadec ocean sanctuary, which covers 620,000 square kilometres and bans mining, prospecting and fishing. Audio, Gallery
Global Ocean Legacy
The director of the Pew Charitable Trusts' Global Ocean Legacy discusses the importance of protected marine areas. Video, Audio
Kelp, Urchins and Marine Reserves
Marine biologist Nick Shears monitors marine reserves to evaluate how effective marine protection is and he is also interested in the effects of climate change on the ocean Audio
Marine Protection in Otago
The South East Marine Protection Forum is coming up with suggestions for marine protected areas in Otago Audio
Environmentalists hope Antarctic deal may help Ross Sea reserve
Environmentalists are hoping China will be more sympathetic to the creation of an Antarctic marine reserve now it will be working more closely with New Zealand on the ice. Audio