The Minister for the Environment is seeking applications or nominations for a member of the Fiordland Marine Guardians (the Guardians).
The Guardians are an advisory group established by the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005. They are responsible for providing advice to Ministers, government departments, and Environment Southland on the management of the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Area (FMA).
The Guardians must have a balanced mix of knowledge and experience in relation to the FMA. At least five of the eight Guardians must live in Otago or Southland, however candidates may reside outside these regions.
The Guardians meet in person in Southland four to five times each year and undertake work outside these meetings. The work is generally flexible and ranges from between 1 and 8 hours per week.
Knowledge and skills in some or all the following areas is desirable:
- an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Tiriti based partnerships, and tikanga Māori
- knowledge of the Guardians’ vision and philosophy and an ability to demonstrate behaviours aligned to these principles
- demonstrated interest and enthusiasm for the role and the FMA, and the necessary time to contribute effectively to the work of the Guardians
- relevant (recent and ongoing) experience and knowledge of coastal Fiordland
- experience, knowledge and perspective to complement those of the current Guardians (current Guardians are profiled here)
- knowledge, experience and/or expertise in one or more aspects of the legislation and policy instruments relevant to managing the FMA (eg, familiarity with the Fiordland (Te Moana o Atawhenua) Marine Management Act 2005, fisheries, environmental and/or conservation legislation, regional plans)
- demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with others from diverse backgrounds
- confidence and experience in effective communications and engagement
- connection to a wide network of people that have an interest in the FMA
- experience in governance and/or an understanding of what governance is and how this is applied through the Fiordland Marine Guardians model, although the role provides an opportunity to learn and develop governance skills
- demonstrated behaviours that suggest they have high personal integrity.
Shortlisted applicants may be subject to background checks.
For further information on the position, please see the Guardians' role description (PDF 137KB).
How to apply
Please email the following completed application documents to info@fmg.org.nz by 5pm Friday 13 March 2026.
- a cover letter outlining how you/the nominee meets the role requirements
- a completed nomination form (form available here (PDF 319KB)).
- a current CV
The Guardians welcome interested people to contact them prior to applying to find out more about the role (email info@fmg.org.nz).
