Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for Oceans and Fisheries) (remote): Yes, it is Government policy to seek protection of 30 percent of marine areas over time. I'm currently working with the Minister of Conservation to create 18 new marine protected areas in the Hauraki Gulf. This will increase marine protection in the region to almost 18 percent by area, an almost threefold increase. In addition to this, we are progressing a proposal to create 12 new protected areas proposed by the South-East Marine Protection Forum off the south-east of the South Island. The proposed marine protected area network covers 1,267 square kilometres, or 14.2 percent of the south-east region considered by the forum. We also remain committed to creating the Kermadec / Rangitāhua Ocean Sanctuary to protect one of New Zealand's most biodiverse areas. The Government also plans to advance reform of the marine protected areas legislation. This is needed partly because the Marine Reserves Act only covers the territorial sea and not the exclusive economic zone, and partly because the Marine Reserves Act has rigid conservation measures that may not be appropriate for all marine protected areas. 