New Zealand has found itself at the crossroads of commitment and action when it concerns ocean protection, especially after participating in the recent Commonwealth leaders' meeting held last week. This gathering, which took place in Samoa, concluded with the Apia Commonwealth Ocean Declaration, wherein members underscored their commitment to tackling the alarming threats posed to oceans worldwide, including climate change, pollution, and over-exploitation of marine resources.
The declaration serves as both a pledge and challenge, calling for "robust, ambitious, innovative, and transformative action for our ocean," aiming for sustainable and resilient oceans for present and future generations. But as much as New Zealand prides itself on its international leadership role concerning ocean issues, critics are now pressing the government to back these bold statements with concrete domestic policies.
One glaring issue raised is the recent proposal by the New Zealand government to resume oil and gas licensing offshore. Critics argue this is contradictory to the principles laid out at the Commonwealth meeting and points to significant gaps within New Zealand’s domestic ocean management strategies. The United Nations Secretary General himself has expressed concerns, echoing sentiments from several Pacific island states about the hazardous nature of exploring fossil fuels, especially when climate change continues to wreak havoc on our planet's oceans.
Perhaps the most troubling takeaway from New Zealand's current ocean policies is its marine protection record—only about 2% of the country's waters are fully protected, which falls significantly below the global average. Reforms aimed at enhancing marine protected areas have repeatedly been attempted and discarded over the past decade, leaving many environmental advocates frustrated and without hope for immediate changes. Since the acknowledgment of these international commitments, the disparity between what is said and what is practiced at home could not be more evident.
The necessity for immediate action gets emphasized by the predominant role of Commonwealth nations as stewards of the ocean. Of the 56 Commonwealth nations, many are small island developing states whose economic and cultural livelihoods are intrinsically linked to the health of their surrounding oceans. Hence, the Apia Declaration is not just rhetoric; it marks recognition of the "global emergency" facing our collective marine environments and reiterates the commitment to reduce plastic pollution, protect marine ecosystems, and limit temperature rise, reinforcing previously established commitments.
This specific commitment reflects New Zealand's signed agreements to safeguard important marine zones, especially as sea levels continue to confront the geographical integrity of these states. For example, it gives acknowledgment to the rights of all Commonwealth states to uphold their maritime zones, regardless of potential sea-level rise. Traditionally, maritime zones are determined at low-water lines; if oceanographic shifts alter these baselines, nations risk losing valuable territorial waters. Yet under this declaration, Pacific island nations maintain the right to keep established maritime boundaries, which act as lifelines for their fish and mineral rights.
On top of this, the declaration emphasizes the necessity to prevent pollution, which has reached dangerous levels globally. Notably, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has advised nations to bear the responsibility to protect the only remaining oceans and uphold their health against the impacts of climate change—this means New Zealand must integrate ocean-based strategies within their climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions, under the Paris Agreement. It calls for the protection and restoration of blue-carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves and salt marshes, which are known to play significant roles in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration.
Despite signing on to these significant environmental commitments, New Zealand's actual policies remain woefully inadequate. An example of this is the urgent need to meet the collective target of protecting 30% of the marine environment by 2030—a goal echoed during public discussions and significantly highlighted during the meeting. The necessity for transformative action echoes from multiple stakeholders, demanding integrated coastal management and the inclusion of Indigenous voices and the broader public in ocean governance.
While it's clear some action is being taken through financial commitments—New Zealand pledged NZ$20 million to the Pacific Resilience Facility—without corresponding domestic policies, such gestures feel more like window dressing than substantial steps toward real change. The world watches closely as nations step up their ocean protection measures, and New Zealand risks disengaging from these progressive narratives if it doesn't strategically align its domestic actions with the international ideals it chooses to promote.
Environmental advocates continue to raise the alarm, demanding a comprehensive ban on bottom trawling practices to safeguard vulnerable marine environments. The activities of New Zealand's trawlers, like the Tasman Viking, which have persistently drawn ire for their destructive practices, demonstrate the pressing need for stringent regulation and enforcement of laws governing fishing practices. Greenpeace has called these actions "environmental vandalism," showcasing their calls for the government to endorse the establishment of marine sanctuaries within New Zealand's oceanic territories and uphold sustainability principles.
Last month, reports surfaced of The Tasman Viking destroying kilograms of deep-sea corals, triggering yet another dialogue surrounding the irresponsible fishing practices off the coast. The cries for protections and bans intensify as scientists warn of the grave consequences of depleting marine flora and fauna, especially within biodiverse regions vulnerable to human intervention.
Continued calls for establishing global ocean sanctuaries amplify as regions like Lord Howe Rise are identified as biodiversity hotspots ripe for protection. Activists laud other nations for stepping forward to declare protected zones even as New Zealand appears to lag. There’s agreement among scientists and environmentalists on the necessity of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans from industrial activities by 2030 to stave off climate crises.
New Zealand's track record leaves much to be desired, and as new declarations emerge from international discussions surrounding climate actions, domestic policies must directly mirror commitments made abroad. The New Zealand government stands at the threshold of immense responsibility—true environmental leadership demands no less than tangible actions aligning with proclaimed commitments.
For many, the call for renewed commitment to ocean protection resonates deeply. If New Zealand wishes to lead on the global stage, it must turn aspirations and declarations about its oceans and marine life from words on paper to projects and policies generating immediate, tangible outcomes. The time to act is now, lest talks of change yield nothing but more empty promises—something New Zealand can hardly afford as it seeks to solidify itself as a vanguard of oceanic stewardship across international waters.
