Forum recommendations

The South-East Marine Protection Forum was established in 2014. Its purpose was to provide recommendations  on a network of Marine Protected Areas from Timaru to Waipapa Point.

The Forum formally completed its work when it delivered its final recommendations to the Minister of Conservation and the Minister of Fisheries on 23 February 2018.

Recommendations report (PDF, 17,879K)

The recommendations were made taking into account the views and information received from the public during the consultation process.

Ministers' decision

In March 2019, Ministers announced their decisions and outlined the statutory processes that will be followed. 

The Ministers of Conservation and Fisheries agreed to progress Network 1 as set out in the Forum’s recommendations report as it best met the objectives of the Marine Protected Areas Policy.

Ministers believed this option would create the best protection for important habitats found in the South Island’s south-eastern coastal area including foraging areas for marine mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates.

• Marine protection proposed for south eastern South Island Media release 11 May 2019
• Paper from Ministers of Conservation and Fisheries to Cabinet Environment, Energy and Climate Committee 14 March 2019 (PDF, 212K)
• Minute of Cabinet Environment, Energy and Climate Committee 14 March 2019 (PDF, 115K)

DOC and Fisheries New Zealand worked to progress the proposed network under the Fisheries Act (1996) and the Marine Reserves Act (1971).

2020 recommencing of public consultation 

Public consultation on proposals recommenced on 3 June 2020 and closed on 3 August 2020.

• Marine protection consultation recommences Media release 3 June 2020
• More information on the consultation process

Background information

Forum members

Members of the Forum represented the interests of tangata whenua; commercial and recreational fishers: conservation groups; the tourism, aquaculture and marine science sectors, the local community; and local government. Forum members and the sectors they represented were:

• Maree Baker-Galloway – Chairperson, Partner at Anderson Lloyd specialising in Environmental Law, Queenstown
• Edward Ellison – Deputy Chair, representing the three Otago Rūnaka, Dunedin
• Dr Philippa Agnew – environmental sector representative, Oamaru
• Steve Bennett – recreational fishing sector, Dunedin *
• Stephanie Blair – representing Te Rūnaka o Awarua, Invercargill
• Simon Gilmour– commercial fishing sector, Dunedin
• Ate Heineman – commercial fishing sector, Dunedin
• John Henry – representing Arowhenua and Waihao, Timaru
• Dr Chris Hepburn – marine sciences sector, Dunedin
• Sue Maturin – environmental sector, Dunedin
• Neville Peat – community sector, Dunedin
• Dr Tim Ritchie – recreational fishing sector, Dunedin
• Fergus Sutherland – Tourism sector, The Catlins
• Carol Scott – commercial fishing sector, Nelson
• Emeritus Professor Khyla Russell – representing the three Otago rūnaka (alternate)
• Gail Thompson – representing Te Rūnaka o Awarua, Bluff (alternate)
• Pauline Reid – representing Arowhenua and Waihao, Kāi Tahu (alternate)
• Nelson Cross – recreational fishing sector, Kaka Point

* Steve Bennett replaced Nelson Cross as a recreational fishing sector representative in December 2016.

2016 Forum consultation process

In late 2016, the Forum consulted with the public, industry and stakeholders on 20 sites for possible inclusion in the network of Marine Protected Areas. This included public and stakeholder meetings, scientific input and a community questionnaire.

• Consultation document (PDF, 6,685K)
• Consultation document supporting information (PDF, 27,087K)

More than 2,800 submissions were received by the Forum for their consideration.

While the Forum members undertook to read and understand each and every submission, independent analysts were commissioned to provide summaries of the submissions received to support the Forum in their deliberations process. The independent summaries below sought to provide an overview of the key points raised in submissions.

• Summary of submissions (PDF, 9,194K)
• Summary of science submissions (PDF, 4,060K)

The 2,803 submissions were received either online, in paper form or via email and equate to thousands of pages of feedback. They are collated below; all private and commercially sensitive information has been removed.

Additionally many submitters completed ‘template’ submissions (referred to as proforma submissions) which were drafted by Fish Forever, Forest and Bird, and Tautuku Fishing Club.

• Public submissions
• Proforma submissions