Marine

Five people on a birdwatching trip near Kaikōura died after being trapped and exposed to petrol fumes.

“No take” recreational and commercial fishing zones has been put in place across parts of Northland.

A bill to protect the Hauraki Gulf has passed its first reading in parliament.

WWF New Zealand says tourism is a potential beneficiary of new legislation to protect and restore the Hauraki Gulf.

Christchurch operator Jet Junkies has pulled its application for jet ski tours to view marine mammals in Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour.

Conservation and environment groups have welcomed the government’s plan to nearly triple the Hauraki Gulf protection area with 19 new marine protection areas.

The government is nearly tripling the Hauraki Gulf protection area with 19 new marine protection areas.

TAIC urges Maritime NZ to rectify what it calls potentially fatal safety flaws in commercial boat fuel systems.

The Green Party has lodged a members’ bill to help protect marine mammals.

Tourism operators working alongside marine wildlife are invited to learn about a new way of approaching risk and safety when engaging in such activities.

The Department of Conservation is requesting people who head out on the water this winter to pick up loose fishing items and protect migrating whales.

The annual whale and dolphin count is back this weekend with the Cetacean Census taking place at coastal areas around the country.

Marlborough District Council will open submissions on a new navigation bylaw for maritime safety from next week.

Biosecurity New Zealand is warning the public about spreading the exotic Caulerpa brachypus seaweed and urging boaties and fishers to thoroughly clean their equipment.

Coastguard New Zealand is urging the government to make urgent changes to boat safety legislation and make it mandatory for all people to wear lifejackets on vessels under 6m in length.

Quieter boats could help to deliver more enjoyable guest experience for whale-watching operators, their guests, and the whales themselves.

Boaties and jetskiers around Gisborne and the East Coast are being urged to keep an eye out for logs and debris around the sea.

A new initiative hopes to restore the Hauraki Gulf’s mussel beds back to their former abundance.

Dolphin advocates want to see more action to protect Hector’s dolphins after a Department of Conservation report noted the deaths of a mother and calf killed by a trawl net.

The first stage of the $20m Queenstown Marina will officially open this week, offering 85 berths for use complemented by 17 floating buildings.

Queenstown Lakes District Council is installing more signage and observing how people use ski lanes to protect boat users and swimmers around waterways this summer.

Cruise ships appear to have affected the distribution of Hector’s dolphins at the popular destination.

Coastal habitats, biodiversity, infrastructure and communities are at increased risk of climate-related changes associated with rising sea levels, according to a new report.

The government is introducing tougher fishing measures to protect the vulnerable South Island Hector’s dolphins.

A grand masterplan is on the cards to turn Nelson Marina into a haven for boaties and the community alike, says Nelson City Council.

Climate change could have a major impact on New Zealand’s marine mammals, with food supply identified as the biggest threat in a new report by the Department of Conservation.

Auckland Council is calling for potential suppliers interested in providing an economic valuation of the Hauraki Gulf as a natural capital asset.

A Hector’s dolphin has been spotted off the coastline around Northland and Auckland and the Department of Conservation is urging people in the area to report any sightings.

A new marine reserve monitoring system and a network of rangers will make up the government’s new Marine Monitoring and Reporting framework.

Maritime New Zealand and the New Zealand Commercial Jet Boating Association have unveiled new guidance to promote common standards for jet boat maintenance and improve safety on and off the water.

A proposal to change recreational fishing rules around the Fiordland Marine Area could include daily limits on many fish species, temporary closure of fisheries, and a change to boundary lines where activities can take place.

The effects of climate change on ocean temperatures could force great whales to disappear from New Zealand’s waters.

A “beneficiary pays” approach to tourism could support local communities and conservation efforts.

Tohorā southern right whales are taking longer to re-establish a habitat in mainland waters, scientists at the University of Auckland have found.

Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has cut the ribbon for the renovated Whakatāne wharf and broken ground on work to construct the new Commercial Boat Harbour.

The draft National Plan of Action Sharks 2022 focuses on conservation, management, and sustainability of sharks caught in New Zealand waters.

Visitors and residents around the Hauraki Gulf and Coromandel are being asked to keep an eye for kekeno or New Zealand fur seals overthe next three months.

Keen whale and dolphin watchers will be keeping a close eye on the ocean this weekend as part of Cetacean Spotting’s third nationwide citizen scientist cetacean survey.

Nelson City Council has set out a 15-year plan for a marina transformation that it says will help grow the local economy.

Work is underway to provide real-time guidance on channel conditions through the Kura te Au/Tory Channel that links the North and South Islands.

The Department of Conservation has reported the 15th dead Hector’s dolphin around the South Island since November last year.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has conducted a survey of the Kaikōura Canyon to help the Department of Conservation understand more about marine life inside and outside Hikurangi Marine Reserve.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has welcomed the introduction of two fully electric ferries to the city’s public transport system from 2024, but he would like to add at least six additional ferries to the fleet.

Auckland will have two fully-electric ferries transporting visitors and commuters around the harbour in 2024

Donor rewards include trips with South Pacific Helicopters, Whale Watch Kaikōura, as well as luxury accommodation at Hapuku Lodge and Treehouses.

Maritime New Zealand is encouraging boaties to be aware of the risks when they are out on the water, and consider courses to manage potentially dangerous situations.

The addition follows the launch of its Tikapa Moana Whale & Dolphin Wildlife Cruise and Explore Motutapu products.

The Department of Conservation will review public submissions on the proposed marine reserve at Hākaimangō – Matiatia on Waiheke Island.

A dead Hector’s dolphin has been discovered on Christchurch’s New Brighton Beach last Saturday.

So much to see and do in the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park, from DOC.