Government agencies working on oceans
The following agencies have key responsibilities and functions for marine management.
- Ministry for the Environment – responsible for monitoring the Environmental Protection Authority and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) legislation and regulations
- Environmental Protection Authority (once the EEZ legislation has been passed) – responsible for consenting, monitoring and enforcement under the EEZ Bill
- Ministry of Primary Industries – responsible for fisheries management
- Department of Conservation – responsible for marine reserves and threatened species
- Ministry of Transport – responsible for the Maritime Transport Act 1994
- Maritime New Zealand – responsible for managing maritime transport and its effects
- Regional councils – responsible for managing the territorial sea (12 nautical miles from the coast)
- National Marine Coordination Centre – responsible for patrolling New Zealand’s waters for civilian purposes (such as customs)
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals– responsible for managing oil and gas and minerals permits and licences. Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment also responsible for health and safety in the marine environment
Secondary agencies
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage
- New Zealand Defence Force
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Ministry of Health
- Ministry of Justice
- Land Information New Zealand
- Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Te Puni Kōkiri
Last updated: 15 November 2012
