You're always close to the coast here
With New Zealand being an isolated island, there is an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 kilometres of coastline. There is no New Zealand location that is more than 130 kilometres from the sea.
Around 80% of New Zealand’s coastline is exposed to open sea with the rest being sheltered in harbours and estuaries. Hundreds of fish species live in the coastal waters of New Zealand as well as many seals, sea lions, dolphins and whales. The wide variation in temperatures and the many kelp-covered reefs consequently attract such a considerable variety of marine life species.
The estuaries and coastal waters of New Zealand are home to an abundance of shellfish from mussels and paua to pipi and scallops.
Because New Zealand is privileged to have such attractive coasts, they are a tourist destination for worldwide visitors and popular holiday spots for locals. To keep the coasts of New Zealand beautiful, the Ministry of Conservation has prepared a New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement.
This is to promote sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of the coast environment including land, foreshore, seabed and coastal waters from the high tide mark to the 12 nautical mile limit. This Policy guides local councils on how to implement sustainable management.