Join us at the WWF Ocean Forum,&nbsp;a political debate on the critical issues affecting our ocean and pathways to ensure its future resilience.&nbsp;Together, we can make a positive impact and protect&nbsp;our Moana&nbsp;for generations to come.
The event will be hosted by the New Zealand Maritime Museum, located in&nbsp;Viaduct Basin on the Waitematā Harbour, which offers a perfect backdrop for this vital discussion, symbolising the nation's deep-rooted connection with the sea.
This event will be an opportunity for key stakeholders, experts, and the community to come together and engage party spokespeople through a constructive debate on ocean policy.
Aotearoa New Zealand has a vast&nbsp;ocean territory, one of the&nbsp;10 largest in the world,&nbsp;of over 4,083,000 square kilometres - 15 times larger than our land mass. Our economy relies on the Moana, with a total of $7.4 billion directly related to sectors active in the marine environment. Critically, our ocean also&nbsp;supports up to 80%&nbsp;of Aotearoa's biodiversity. A healthy ocean is vital to our wellbeing.
Currently, less than 0.5% of Aotearoa’s ocean territory is protected. This has significantly affected our native species with approximately 90% of our seabirds, 85% of our invertebrates, 80% of our shorebirds, and 22% of our marine mammals either threatened with or at risk of extinction. Critically important areas, like Tīkapa Moana / the Hauraki Gulf, are in a state of sustained and dramatic decline.

WWF Ocean Forum: Political debate on ocean health and resilience