A massive new marine sanctuary about 1000km northeast of New Zealand has been announced by Prime Minister John Key at the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will cover 620,000 square kilometres, encompassing some of the world's most geologically diverse landscapes.
The sanctuary will hold the world's longest chain of submerged volcanoes along with the second deepest ocean trench measuring around 10km deep.
The Pew Global Ocean Legacy Kermadec Campaign director Bronwen Golder said all New Zealanders could take pride in the announcement.
The area is 35 times larger than New Zealand's existing marine reserves and is an important breeding and feed ground for seabirds, whales and dolphins, turtles as well as fish and invertebrate.
