New Zealand has unveiled plans to create a South Pacific marine sanctuary the size of France, saying it would protect one of the world’s most pristine ocean environments.
Prime Minister John Key said the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary would cover an area of 620,000 square kilometres (240,000 square miles) about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) off New Zealand’s northeast coast.
Announcing the plans at the United Nations in New York on Monday, Key said the Kermadec area was home to thousands of important species, including whales, dolphins, seabirds and endangered turtles. Read More
