This blog post summarises and expands on the government report Our Marine Environment 2025. It explains how escalating climate extremes are already reshaping New Zealand’s marine and coastal systems.
The post highlights the report’s main findings — from economic exposure in fisheries and aquaculture to threats to homes, insurance, and the cultural practices of iwi. It also outlines practical steps for building resilience and integrating mātauranga Māori into national planning.
Key findings from the report and what they reveal
The Ministry for the Environment and Stats NZ combine scientific monitoring with mātauranga Māori. Rising global temperatures are intensifying cyclones, floods, storms and marine heat waves around New Zealand.
These shifts are not theoretical. The report quantifies tangible social and economic exposure.
Highlights include: over 14,000 jobs in the fishery and aquaculture sectors at risk, representing about 1.1 billion NZD in economic value. Roughly 219,000 homes are located in flood-prone areas.
The report also flags escalating costs and reduced availability in household insurance and reinsurance as climate risks increase.
Economic and social implications
The potential loss or disruption of thousands of jobs in fisheries and aquaculture will ripple through regional economies. This will affect supply chains and food security.
Rising sea levels and more frequent coastal flooding place communities and infrastructure in long-term jeopardy. Increased insurance premiums or withdrawal of coverage will compound recovery challenges.
Why mātauranga Māori and ecological indicators matter
A crucial contribution of this report is the deliberate pairing of conventional science with mātauranga Māori. Iwi observe natural indicators — tohu — that signal seasonal cycles, species health and ecosystem balance.
These cultural-ecological markers are being disrupted by marine heat waves and extreme events. This makes it harder for tangata whenua to maintain customary practices and environmental guardianship.
Integrating indigenous knowledge strengthens environmental monitoring and adaptive management. It provides long-term context, local indicators and culturally grounded priorities for restoration.
Impacts on wildlife and customary practices
Marine heat waves and intensified storms are harming biodiversity and altering species distributions. This directly affects customary harvesting and kaitiakitanga.
Loss of reliable tohu undermines seasonal knowledge used for caring for kaimoana and coastal taonga. There are knock-on effects for social and cultural wellbeing.
Practical steps: restoration, blue carbon and preparedness
Our response must be multi-faceted: protect and restore coastal habitats, invest in natural carbon sinks, and strengthen national preparedness. Restored estuaries, wetlands and seagrass beds can reduce flood impacts and store carbon (blue carbon).
These habitats also support fisheries and deliver climate mitigation, biodiversity and socio-economic co-benefits.
Priority actions recommended:
A call to coordinated action
As someone with decades working at the science-policy interface, I emphasise that integrating local knowledge, ambitious restoration and clear policy signals are essential.
The challenges outlined in Our Marine Environment 2025 are manageable only through coordinated national effort and investment in nature-based solutions.
Respectful partnership with iwi and coastal communities is also crucial.
Here is the source article for this story: Experts issue warning on overlooked crisis putting thousands of jobs at risk: ‘Increasing risks’