There are calls for major legislation changes to creating marine reserves "fit for purpose" as the South Island's east coast welcomes six new protected areas.
The Government has given the go-ahead after nearly a decade of consultation and consideration along parts of coastline between Timaru and the Catlins.
The move has increased marine reserves in New Zealand by two-thirds — around 500 sq kilometres more.
It is a region that is home to endangered species including the Hoiho/Yellow-eyed Penguin, Toroa/Royal Albatross, and the New Zealand sea lion.
A marine reserve means you can boat, snorkel or dive, but no seafood can be taken from the areas.
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Rachel Brooking said: "Oceans are a crucial part of our bio-diversity and they support our way of life."
At one stage around 100 sites were proposed but that was whittled down to six, to preserve fish stocks and other wildlife.
Penguin Rescue NZ spokesperson Rosalie Goldsworthy told 1News: "I am so pleased and excited.
"What a huge step forward for conservation in the South Island."
Chelsea McGaw from Forest and Bird said: "It's a big win for Otago and New Zealand in general."
But both acknowledged the proposal took a long time.
"We have responded to the calls of 30 years of advocacy for marine protection [and] 10 years of important work that's gone in from the communities," Conservation Minister Willow-Jean Prime said.
It is part of a global treaty, known as the High Seas Treaty, to safeguard 30% of oceans by 2030.
But just getting to today's announcement has been an agonising journey, with the current Marine Reserves Act being blamed for part of the slowdown.
Edward Ellison from Kāi Tahu said: "We came together on this process because we thought it would work. It did work. And our commitment was to follow that through to have these reserves introduced."
But he said "we won't do that again under the current legislation".
He's calling for a new "fit for purpose" act to work towards better marine reserves for all.
Besides some wanting to see more areas protected, they were taking this step as a win.
"The reserves are way too small and not where the most endangered wildlife live, but it doesn't matter, it's a start," Goldsworthy added.
"We've missed a couple of areas in Oamaru and one or two down in the Catlins, which are also important Hoiho areas," McGaw said.
"But there are particular challenges with those ones which meant that they got dropped out of the [original] proposal... but you know, we're helpful something can be done down there later."
A local fishing club in Dunedin has concerns recreational fishers might be forced into unsafe areas. It is still reviewing the announcement.
"I understand the frustration that people can't go to the areas that they normally would go fishing," McGaw said.
"But research has shown that marine reserves improve the size and abundance of harvestable fish."
Questions were also raised about the timing of the announcement just days out from an election.
Prime said "it's definitely not a coincidence" and that "it's been an almost 10-year process".
More marine reserves are being considered for the same stretch of coastline with the hope to protect more of our environment in the future.
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