Maps of New Zealand’s Foreshore and Seabed

The attached maps show the extent of the foreshore and seabed (F&S) around New Zealand. The foreshore and seabed is defined as the New Zealand territorial sea and extends from the nearest land to 12 nautical miles (22.1 km) out to sea. Prior to 1994, the territorial sea stopped at 3 nautical miles from the nearest land. It was extended in 1994 as a result of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) becoming operative. This extension approximately quadrupled the area of the F&S to its present areas of well over 100,000 sq kilometres (10 million hectares).

The F&S contains all harbours, eg Kaipara, Manukau, Waitemata, Whangarei, Firth of Thames, Wellington, Lyttelton, Dunedin, Tauranga, Golden Bay, Marlborough Sounds, Fiordland Fiords etc.

It also contains navigable rivers inland to where the river is no longer tidal, eg Clutha River Mouth, Grey River mouth. This includes all salt water, and for rivers, some tidal areas that are normally fresh flowing water. Many whitebaiting stands are on this part of the F&S.

Where there are coastal offshore islands, the F&S extends further out to sea, eg off the Northland East Coast (Poor Knights Islands), the Hauraki Gulf (Great Barrier Island), the Bay of Plenty (Mayor Island, White Island etc). The area that extends further away from the mainland is the Hauraki Gulf, which lies wholly in the F&S.

The five maps show the regional extent of the F&S (Territorial Sea).

Map1 View >>>  of New Zealand, shows the F&S round the three main islands of New Zealand. All the likely sites for aquaculture are in the F&S. The most favoured of these are near to shore, in inlets and more sheltered waters eg Marlborough Sounds, Firth of Thames, Hauraki Gulf, Stewart Island, Tasman and Golden Bay, and other various harbours and inlets, where aquaculture could be carried out. Many areas eg Marlborough Sounds, Nelson Bays, Fiordland are centres for coastal tourism. The value of the infrastructure and buildings associated with the Foreshore and Seabed in New Zealand including ports, aquaculture and tourist and bach facilities is many billions of dollars.

Map 2 View >>> shows the F&S for the Northland, Auckland, the Huaraki Gulf, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty coasts. Northland, Auckland and Coromandel have the greatest number of harbours and inlets in New Zealand, apart possibly from the Marlborough Sounds or Fiordland. Also the largest relative area of F&S because of the large number of offshore islands eg Northland, the Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty. The whole of this east coast has many settlements of coastal baches, because of its sheltered nature and suitability for boating, fishing and yachting.

Map 3 View >>> shows Hawke’s Bay, the Wairarapa, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wellington, the Marlborough Sounds and Nelson coasts. These North Island coasts are more open to storms and prevailing winds, apart from Wellington Harbour. The Marlborough Sounds has sheltered anchorages, and is the centre of aquaculture in NZ. Taman Bay and Golden bay are also sheltered, and important for aquaculture. Both the Marlborough Sounds are important for coastal baches and tourism.

Map 4 View >>> shows South Marlborough, West Coast and North Canterbury coasts. Open to prevailing winds and storms. Few Islands. Banks Peninsula with its numerous bays and harbours provides the main shelter areas.

Map 5 View >>> shows South Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Stewart Island: Again relatively open and exposed coasts. The exceptions are Fiordland, Patterson Inlet on Stewart Island, and Otago and Bluff Harbours.