Three more marine areas protected

The Government is creating three new marine reserves, off the coasts of Whangarei, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

Conservation Minister Chris Carter and Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said they were located in spectacular marine environments and would add significant new dimensions to the network of marine protected areas.

The ministers said the reserves contained nationally important marine life and marine habitats such as volcanic reefs, rare corals, distinctive and rare sponge gardens, tidal flats and a vast array of fish species.

The new reserves will be formed at Whangarei Harbour (231ha), Volkner Rocks in the Bay of Plenty (1290ha) and Parininihi in North Taranaki (1759ha).

Mr Carter said the reserves would bring the number to 31, and the area now protected was about 7.5 per cent of New Zealand's territorial waters.

Most of that area is around remote offshore islands.

"These reserves are a good step forward in improving the extent of marine protection in our vast marine area," he said.

"They have been under discussion for 10 years or more."

Four more reserve applications are waiting for decisions from ministers.

When decisions have been made on them, a new system for locating marine reserves will be introduced.

Mr Carter said the new policy was designed to achieve greater consensus before proposals went to ministers.

Regional planning and consultation would be sought first, he said.

- NZPA