Our 2026 Election Manifesto

25 September 2026

Seafood New Zealand has released its 2026 Election Manifesto – Working Together for Sustainable Seafood, setting out the seafood sector’s priorities for the next Government.

The manifesto outlines the areas where Seafood New Zealand believes the next Government can work with the seafood sector to support a sustainable, resilient and high-value future for New Zealand’s wild-caught seafood industry. It also sets out a series of commitments from the commercial fishing sector as part of that future.

The priorities are organised around four pillars:

• Modernise fisheries management – making better use of science, technology and data, and ensuring the system can apply the right management tools to the right issue at the right time.
• Protect access to wild-caught seafood – supporting a more integrated approach to marine management that recognises both environmental protection and sustainable seafood production.
• Grow the value of New Zealand seafood – strengthening international trade and market access, science and innovation, and workforce capability.
• Plan for the future – creating a longer-term direction for the sector, including a National Seafood Strategy jointly developed by Government, Māori and industry.

Alongside these priorities, the manifesto sets out four commitments from the commercial fishing sector: a bold, coordinated programme of fishing innovation (including bottom trawling); working with Government and Treaty partners to help restore the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana through kina removal and kelp forest restoration; exploring how seafood can better support community wellbeing and New Zealand’s food relief infrastructure; and championing a fresh era of collaboration across commercial, charter, recreational and customary fishing interests.

These priorities will form the basis of Seafood New Zealand’s engagement with political parties and MPs in the lead-up to the 2026 General Election.

Read the full manifesto below.

Our election manifesto