Bottom trawling concern surging, ocean issues climb voter agenda

Polling by Horizon Research reveals 90% of New Zealanders want bottom trawling limited in some form and more than half (55%) support a complete ban in the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana.

53% of NZ First voters support restricting bottom trawling

Green and Labour party voters are most likely to think that bottom trawling should be restricted in all areas in New Zealand’s ocean.

53% of New Zealand First voters think it should be restricted in all areas.

ACT and National voters most likely to think it should be restricted but only in sensitive or vulnerable areas.

The survey reveals 47% of Kiwis identify bottom trawling as the top threat to the marine environment - up from 37% in similar polling commissioned by WWF-New Zealand in 2024.

Restricting bottom trawling is also now the top action New Zealanders want the Government to take to protect the ocean, alongside creating more Marine Protected Areas. 81% of Kiwis want to see marine protection expanded.

WWF-New Zealand says the survey is timely ahead of the election – with 71% of New Zealanders saying a political party’s policies on protecting the ocean are important when deciding their vote, and 34% saying they would change their vote as a result – up from 27% in 2024.

At the same time, concern about ocean health is deepening, with the proportion of New Zealanders who are very concerned rising from 27% in 2024 to 33%.

Other key findings in the survey include:

• Support for marine protection remains high, with 81% of New Zealanders saying they want Aotearoa to expand Marine Protected Areas.
• 33% of New Zealanders are very concerned about ocean health (up from 27% in 2024)

• ‘Concerned’, ‘disappointed’, and ‘frustrated’ are the top feelings people have about how the current Government is looking after marine life. 36% reported feeling ‘concerned’ – an increase on 32% in 2024.
• 71% say that a political party’s policies on protecting the ocean are important when deciding their vote – with 34% saying they would change their vote as a result.
• 47% identify bottom trawling as the top threat facing the marine environment (up from 37% in 2024).
• 47% say restricting commercial fishing methods such as bottom trawling should be the top action Government takes to protect the ocean (up from 33% in 2024)
• 90% support restricting bottom trawling in some form – with 55% saying it should be restricted in all areas, and 32% saying it should be restricted in sensitive or vulnerable areas.
• 65% oppose commercial fishing in the ‘High Protection Areas’ of the Hauraki Gulf.
• 78% support the creation of the Kermadec Rangitāhua Ocean Sanctuary (up from 71% in 2024)

The Horizon Research survey was conducted between 9–15 April 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 1,032 adults. Maximum margin of error is ±3% at the 95% confidence level.

The full survey report can be downloaded here.

The results have been reported by The Post.