Conservation International Aotearoa

Conservation International Aotearoa

Abbreviation	CI Aotearoa
Type	Country programme
Region served	New Zealand; Pacific region
Fields	Ocean protection; Marine conservation; climate action; Blue carbon; policy research
Parent organization	Conservation International
Website	aotearoa.conservation.org

Conservation International Aotearoa (Aotearoa, the Māori-language name for New Zealand) is the New Zealand programme of Conservation International, an environmental non-governmental organization. The programme focuses on iwi and Māori-led ocean solutions in Aotearoa New Zealand and on partnerships across the Pacific, including the Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative, an Indigenous-led ocean programme based in Aotearoa focused on ocean protection and climate action across the Pacific region.^[1][2]

The programme promotes the Pacific Guardians Initiative as part of Conservation International's Guardians programme, which supports Indigenous-led marine stewardship in the Pacific through work that combines customary knowledge with science and education.^[3] Conservation International Aotearoa is a contributing organisation to government-commissioned policy research on coastal wetland blue carbon in Aotearoa New Zealand, and New Zealand's Department of Conservation has partnered with Manta Watch NZ and Conservation International Aotearoa on oceanic manta ray research in New Zealand waters.^[4][5]

In the early 2020s, the programme's focus was iwi and Māori-led ocean work in Aotearoa New Zealand and collaboration with Pacific partners, including Hinemoana Halo.^[1][2]

From 2022 onwards, Hinemoana Halo featured in climate and ocean advocacy, fundraising, and Pacific partnerships, including engagement around COP processes and whale-protection advocacy in the Pacific.^{[6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

In 2024–2025, coastal wetland blue carbon policy work and environmental reporting in Aotearoa New Zealand covered policy settings for blue-carbon projects and national estimates for blue carbon habitats in estuaries and coastal areas.^[4][13]

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Selected programme locations in Aotearoa New Zealand (1 Te Hiku o Te Ika (Ngāti Kurī); 2 Ōpōtiki (Te Whānau a Apanui partnership); 3 Te Tauihu)

The programme works with Pacific partners through initiatives including Hinemoana Halo.^[2][1] The film Moana Rising highlighted Indigenous-led climate initiatives, including Hinemoana Halo, and described Hinemoana Halo as an Indigenous-led blue carbon regime developed in collaboration with Conservation International.^[6]

In September 2023, Māori leaders proposed protecting whales in international waters at the United Nations General Assembly and described proposed financing connected to the initiative, including raising US$100 million through a blue bond.^[7] In December 2023, US$50 million was committed at COP28 to a Māori-led climate venture linked to Hinemoana Halo, with a stated fundraising goal of US$100 million.^[8] Conservation International Aotearoa invited Ngāti Kurī to engage in discussions at COP27 and attend the launch of the Hinemoana Halo initiative.^[9]

Hinemoana Halo uses an approach combining Indigenous knowledge with scientific knowledge to develop ocean-based solutions for ocean management.^[14] It is a partnership of seven Indigenous groups and works on nature-based solutions and Indigenous-owned nature markets connected to blue carbon and biodiversity carbon habitats across the Pacific.^[15] He Whakaputanga Moana (Declaration for the Ocean) proposed a legal personhood approach for whales in the Pacific and international waters.^[10][11][12] Hinemoana Halo seeks to protect 850,000 sq mi of ocean across the Polynesian Triangle, bounded by Hawaiʻi, Aotearoa New Zealand and Rapa Nui.^[10][7] The programme also promotes the Pacific Guardians Initiative as part of Conservation International's Guardians programme.^[3]

In December 2025, New Zealand's Department of Conservation stated that it partnered with Manta Watch NZ and Conservation International Aotearoa on work related to oceanic manta rays, including research associated with a national report on the species.^[5] The Live Ocean Foundation supported Manta Watch New Zealand's work, including satellite tagging and the development of a best-practice guide for in-water encounters with manta rays.^[16]

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Selected programme locations in the central Pacific (1 Tokelau scientific expedition; 2 Tonga (Hinemoana II voyage))

In July 2024, the Tongan Voyaging Society in Tonga planned a voyage using the canoe Hinemoana II to gather whale data; partners included Te Whānau a Apanui and Conservation International Aotearoa.^[17]

In April 2025, a Conservation International-led scientific expedition to Tokelau, undertaken with New Zealand Geographic, found coral reefs showing signs of recovery after a marine heatwave and widespread coral bleaching in the region, and discussed local governance in Tokelau in relation to marine management.^[18]

Conservation International Aotearoa contributed to policy research on coastal wetland blue carbon in Aotearoa New Zealand, including work related to enabling blue-carbon crediting and market development.^[4] Coastal blue carbon habitats in Aotearoa New Zealand include mangroves, saltmarsh, and seagrass, and work on enabling blue carbon projects has considered carbon storage and sequestration as well as governance and participation in carbon markets.^[19][20]

Expanding temperate mangrove forests in Aotearoa New Zealand were estimated to capture carbon, with implications discussed for national climate mitigation policy and reporting.^[21]

A national dataset was developed to support coastal wetland blue carbon mapping and associated carbon stock information, and pilot sediment organic carbon measurements were reported for coastal blue carbon habitats in Te Tauihu.^[22][23] National environmental reporting provided estimates for saltmarsh, mangroves and seagrass extent in New Zealand's estuaries and coastal areas and reported annual carbon sequestration estimates for those habitats based on a national assessment.^[13]