Good model going forward': New Zealand opens first Maori co-managed marine reserves

New Zealand has opened its first five Māori co-managed no-take marine reserves, starting July 1, 2026, after more than 10 years of planning. The reserves cover 119 square miles—about 0.01% of the country’s waters—and are intended to protect habitats such as kelp forests, rocky reefs, tidal lagoons, and offshore canyons. Officials say the new rollout is a shift from a 2015 Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary proposal that collapsed over disputes about Māori rights and consultation. The Department of Conservation describes formal shared management, including co-run ranger teams and joint decision-making with Indigenous leadership. Together, they raise fully protected waters to 0.46%. One reserve, Te Umukōau, remains pending after a legal challenge and a boundary review in December 2025.