Front page | Fiordland Marine Guardians

As a group, we're responsible for managing and caring for Fiordland's precious marine environment.

A boat on the calm waters of Fiordland, New Zealand, surrounded by green hills.

Coming to Fiordland?

Every visitor must play their part in keeping this special corner of New Zealand safe.

Before you come:

get up to date with the Protect Fiordland section of this site
get a clean vessel pass
clean all your diving and fishing gear
make a plan where to anchor
know where you can and can’t fish
check the weather forecast for Puysegur and Milford Sound/Piopiotahi.

Publications

Newsletters

Download Te Panui Kaitiaki o Ata Whenua, Issue 14, November 2025 or you can view all the Guardians' newsletters

Annual reports

Read about the work of the Guardians and our partner agencies in our latest annual report [PDF, 3.3 MB] or view all our annual reports.

Strategic Priorities 2025-28

The Guardians have worked with the management agencies to develop strategic priorities [PDF 37KB] for the next three years.

All Publications

Latest News

Call for nominations for Fiordland Marine Guardian

The Minister for the Environment is seeking applications or nominations for a member of the Fiordland Marine Guardians (the Guardians).

Feb 18, 2026

Environment Southland Community Awards - Fiordland Marine Guardians

The Fiordland Marine Guardians’ recent run of recognition has continued, with the group receiving two honours at the 29th Environment Southland Community Awards in Invercargill on 3 October.

The awards, hosted by Environment Southland, celebrate Murihiku Southland’s environmental achievers.

The Guardians and the Deep Cove Outdoor Education Trust received Highly Commended in the ‘Environmental Action in Education’ category for the Fiordland Marine Education Programme.

Oct 21, 2025

The Fiordland Marine Guardians

As a group, we're responsible for managing and caring for Fiordland's precious marine environment.

Dr Rebecca McLeod (Chair)
Guardian since 2012
Rebecca has extensive knowledge of Fiordland, from the rainforests to its…
Stewart Bull
Guardian since 1995
Stewart has extensive knowledge of the customary uses of Fiordland,…
Ali Ballantine
Guardian since 2018
Ali’s passion for and interest in Fiordland began when she moved…
Peter Young
Guardian since 2018
Pete has worked on boats…
John Cushen
Guardian since 2021
John has a passion for Fiordland and has worked there as a tourism business…
Gavin Tayles
Guardian since 2021
Gavin's heritage is in Southland and he resides in rural Northern Southland. He…
Mark Peychers
Guardian since 1995
Mark has been a commercial fisher for almost 30 years and is a shareholding…

Fiordland Marine Guardians

Beneath the Reflections

As a group, we're responsible for managing and caring for Fiordland's precious marine environment.

Coming to Fiordland?

Publications

Newsletters

Annual reports

Strategic Priorities 2025-28

Latest News

Call for nominations for Fiordland Marine Guardian

Environment Southland Community Awards - Fiordland Marine Guardians

The Fiordland Marine Guardians

Dr Rebecca McLeod (Chair)

Stewart Bull

Ali Ballantine

Peter Young

John Cushen

Gavin Tayles

Mark Peychers

Partner agencies

Search

Fiordland Marine Guardians

Beneath the Reflections

As a group, we're responsible for managing and caring for Fiordland's precious marine environment.

Coming to Fiordland?

Publications

Latest News

The Fiordland Marine Guardians

Connect with us

Partner agencies