29603 (2025). Lan Pham to the Minister of Conservation

29603 (2025). Lan Pham to the Minister of Conservation: Which marine areas, if any, are the government aiming to protect by 2030?

Hon Tama Potaka: New Zealand is committed to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Biodiversity Framework and its component goals and targets, including achieving 30% protection of land and of oceans globally by 2030. While New Zealand has not adopted the 30% by 2030 global target at a domestic level, the Government has been progressing work on two large marine protection networks covering valuable habitats in areas where we have a great diversity of species: • The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana; and • South-east coast of the South Island. The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill proposes 19 new marine protection areas, including extensions to Cape Rodney to Okakari Point (Leigh) Marine Reserve and Te Whanganui-o-Hei / Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve, 12 High Protection Areas and five Seafloor Protection Areas, almost tripling the level of protection in the Gulf. Along the south-east coast of the South Island, six new marine reserves are intended to protect important and unique habitats and marine life. The Order in Council and gazettal process to bring the marine reserves into force was expected to be completed in 2024, but judicial review proceedings have delayed the remaining process steps. The Government is currently responding to the judicial review claim.