Supporting Aotearoa’s Seafood Sector

In partnership with The Aotearoa Circle, KPMG New Zealand has developed a set of future-focused scenarios that explore how climate, nature, and Te Ao Māori perspectives may shape the seafood sector. This work provides strategic insights and practical tools to support adaptation and resilience—not only for seafood, but for any industry facing interconnected environmental and cultural risks.

This page brings together key publications, scenario narratives and planning resources to help organisations navigate a sustainable, Tiriti-based future for seafood in Aotearoa.

Seafood Sector Integrated Scenarios

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Key Findings

The scenarios provide a practical, culturally grounded framework for long-term planning, helping organisations understand interconnected risks and opportunities. By weaving together environmental science, indigenous knowledge, and strategic foresight, the report offers a powerful tool to support resilience, equity, and sustainability across the sector.

Across all scenarios, climate change emerges as the defining force reshaping Aotearoa New Zealand’s seafood sector, but with varying intensity and response strategies:

The seafood sector must prepare for significant changes driven by climate disruption. These changes will affect ecosystems, operations, and communities.

Climate-related risks often manifest through nature—such as ocean warming, acidification, and biodiversity loss. Integrating nature into climate assessments provides a more complete and actionable understanding of risk.

Embedding Te Ao Māori perspectives strengthens resilience, equity, and cultural relevance. Māori leadership and knowledge systems are essential to sustainable seafood futures.

Proactive planning and collaboration across the sector can reduce long-term costs, unlock opportunities, and build adaptive capacity.

Waiting to respond to climate and nature risks will narrow future choices and increase the burden on communities and ecosystems.

Additional Resources

The integrated climate, nature, and Te Ao Māori scenarios are the latest output in a longstanding partnership between KPMG New Zealand and the Aotearoa Circle in support of Aotearoa New Zealand’s seafood sector. This partnership has produced a range of materials to support the sector, including the original Seafood Sector Climate Scenarios and the Seafood Sector Adaptation Strategy.

Most recently, and in recognition of the vital and ongoing role of iwi in Aotearoa’s seafood sector, The Aotearoa Circle commissioned KPMG to develop resources to help organisations embed Tiriti-based approaches.

These documents offer a clear overview of the legal and political context of Māori in the sector, alongside actionable guidance to support the meaningful implementation of the Seafood Adaptation Toolkits while upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The Legal and Political History of Māori within the Seafood Sector

Briefing Paper tracing the evolution of New Zealand’s seafood sector, highlighting the central role of Māori from traditional practices to modern governance.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi Approaches to the Seafood Adaptation Strategy

Practical guidance for seafood sector organisations on applying Tiriti-based approaches to support the implementation of the Seafood Sector Adaptation Toolkits.