Towards Osaka Blue Ocean Vision - G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter

New Zealand

Actions and Progress on Marine Plastic Litter
Last Update : 2025/10/09

Policy framework

Legal Framework

Name（Year）:
New Zealand does not have legislation specifically on MPL. For waste management we have the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 (WMA) and the Litter Act 1979.

Brief Description:
The WMA encourages a reduction in the amount of waste we generate and dispose of in New Zealand. The aim is to reduce the environmental harm of waste and provide economic, social and cultural benefits for New Zealand. The WMA and the Litter Act are currently being updated to strengthen and support the government’s waste programme priorities. This includes:

  • creating a framework for extended producer responsibility
  • changes to how the waste levy is allocated to territorial authorities, and what they can spend the money on
  • clarifying roles and responsibilities for central government, local government and the waste sector
  • improving tools for compliance, monitoring, and enforcement
  • enabling efficient and effective controls for littering and other types of mismanaged waste.

Indicators and/or Targets

Brief Description:
No nationally-adopted targets or indicators but an ENGO has a long running Litter Intelligence programme: Litter Intelligence - Litter Intelligence

Technical Standards, Guidelines and Methodologies

Brief Description:
There is nothing from a government perspective, however the national body for the plastics industry leads Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) in New Zealand. OCS is a voluntary, industry-led, international programme designed to prevent the loss of microplastics into the environment. More info on OCS here:Home

Measures

Measures across Value Chain
Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design (example: improved durability, reparability, recyclability, reduction of material use per product…etc.) Yes

Specific Measures:

1. The Waste Minimisation (Plastic and Related Products) Regulations 2022 ban several hard-to-recycle items including:

  • pre-formed PVC trays and containers (used for produce, meat or baked goods)
  • rigid and expanded polystyrene takeaway food and beverage packaging
  • expanded polystyrene retail food and beverage packaging
  • all plastic products which contain a pro-degradant additives
  • (other single-use plastic items are also banned and listed under 3.1.4).

2. The Waste Minimisation Fund (administered by MfE) provides funding for projects which divert waste from landfill. The Waste Minimisation Fund is funded from a waste disposal levy. Levy rates are subject to planned increases from 2021 to 2027 to disincentivise landfilling. Minimum grants are $100,000. A range or projects are funded, from feasibility studies, recycling infrastructure (optical sorters, wash plants, granulators) to kerbside recycling collections. A recent example is this construction waste recovery plant.
 
3. A “Right to Repair Bill” is progressing through the legislative process having passed its first reading in February 2025. The bill seeks to amend the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) 1993, requiring manufacturers to:

  • reasonably ensure that facilities for repair of goods and supply of parts for the goods are reasonably available for a reasonable period after the goods are supplied
  • provide the consumer with, upon request, information, spare parts, software, and other tools used for diagnosing, maintaining, or repairing goods.

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Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives, recycled materials at production stage. No

Brief Description:
There are no regulatory requirements for recycled materials etc., but circularity has been a previous focus for the Waste Minimisation Fund. E.g. in 2014 a $4 million grant supported NZ’s first post-consumer PET recycling plant in New Zealand.

Steps taken towards restricting microplastics in products. Yes

Specific Measures:
Targeted Products
■ Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
Brief Description:
Under the WMA 2008, the Waste Minimisation (Microbeads) Regulations 2017 banned the sale and manufacture of wash-off products that contain plastic microbeads for the purposes of exfoliation, cleaning, abrasive cleaning or visual appearance of the product. The intent is to capture two types of microbead-containing products:

  • wash-off cosmetics such as facial and body exfoliants, toothpaste and heavy-duty hand cleansers
  • abrasive cleaning products, including household, car or industrial cleaning products.

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Reduce single-use plastic (shopping bags, straws etc.) by regulations or voluntary measures (such as ban, levy, others) Yes
In Preparation

■ Regulatory Measures (ex: production ban, Ban on use..etc)
Brief Description:
Under the WMA, the following materials and applications are banned.

Date Banned item
2019 Single-use plastic shopping bags banned (applicable to bags with handles made of plastic up to 70 microns in thickness)
Oct 2022 Plastic phase outs work programme, tranche 1:

  • PVC trays
  • Polystyrene takeaway food and beverage packaging
  • Expanded polystyrene food and beverage packaging sold at retail
  • All plastic products that contain a pro-degradant additive
  • Plastic drink stirrers
  • Plastic cotton ear buds
July 2023 Plastic phase outs work programme, tranche 2:

  • Plastic produce bags (for fruits and vegetables)
  • Plastic tableware including plates, bowls and cutlery
  • Plastic straws
Jan 2026 Integrated plastic straws (part of tranche 2)
Jan 2028 Plastic produce labels affixed to fruit (part of tranche 2)

A third tranche of plastic phase outs is under active consideration. If progressed, this tranche would ban remaining PVC and polystyrene from the food and beverage sector

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Introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Yes
In Preparation
Targeted Products 1. Tyres
Brief Description Tyrewise is the first and only accredited, regulated product stewardship scheme for end-of-life tyres in NZ.
The scheme was designed by industry with support from government. It is the mechanism by which those in the supply chain take responsibility for the environmental impact of their product at its end of life under the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.
Tyrewise will enable the nationwide resource recovery of end-of-life tyres in New Zealand to ensure this resource is not wasted but rather creates economic and social benefits. The Scheme includes incentive payments (not considered subsidies) payable on evidence of eligible sale to the domestic market.
Nature of Responsibility ■ Financial responsibility
■ Operational responsibility
■ Collective producer responsibility
Modality Mandatory EPR
■ Product take back
■ Advance disposal fee
(price: $6.65 ex GST per Equivalent Passenger Unit, but this varies based on the type pf tyre)		 Voluntary EPR
-
Performance indicators
 ■ Others: Target to recycle 90% of tyres in NZ by 2030, with remainder exported to approved markets.
Targeted Products 2. Agrichemicals, their containers, and farm plastics
Brief Description On 1 June 2025, the NZ government finished consulting on proposed regulations to support a regulated product stewardship scheme for agrichemicals, their containers, and farm plastics, helping farmers and growers to reduce the environmental impact of these essential products.
 
The scheme proposes applying a small advance disposal fee on targeted in-scope products. This fee would fund free-to-use services for farmers and growers, ensuring they have easy access to national take-back and recycling systems as an alternative to landfilling, burying or burning the plastics.
 
As the regulations have not yet been drafted, no scheme details such as collection fees have been confirmed, which is why the boxes below are not complete.
Nature of Responsibility ■ Financial responsibility
■ Operational responsibility
■ Collective producer responsibility

3. A Plastic Packaging Product Stewardship Scheme is also in the early stages of evelopment. As at 15 June 2025, research has been conducted to recommend what a scheme might look like in New Zealand. Next steps are being considered.

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Improve waste management and recycling system Yes

Specific Measures:
1. Kerbside Recycling Standardisation
The Kerbside Recycling Standardisation policy came into effect in February 2024. From this date all Territorial Authorities are required to collect the same materials at kerbside. The policy is expected to divert an extra 36,000 tonnes of recycling from landfill each year. More information here:Standard materials for kerbside collections: Guidance | Ministry for the Environment
 
2. Plastics phase outs
One of the policy aims with the plastic phase outs work programme (see 3.1.4) was to increase the recyclability of materials and reduce contamination through the recycling system.
 
3. Establishment of a Recycling Leadership Forum
The Recycling Leadership Forum was established in May 2024. It brings together brand owners and representatives from the retail, packaging, food and grocery, recycling, and local government sectors. It provides expert advice and information to the Ministry for the Environment on improving the recyclability and recovery of packaging materials. More about the forum here:
Recycling Leadership Forum | Ministry for the Environment
 
4. Improved data collection
For the first time in 2025 Territorial Authorities are required to report to MfE the following data:

  • types of materials collected
  • tonnes of materials collected
  • ontamination tonnages for waste services managed by a territorial authority (eg, kerbside recycling collection)
  • facilities owned or operated by a territorial authority (eg, material recovery facility)

Private operators are not subject to these reporting requirements. More information about the requirements here: Territorial waste levy reporting obligations | Ministry for the Environment
 
5. Updating waste legislation
The NZ Government is currently consulting on updating the two key pieces of legislation that govern waste: the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 and Litter Act 1979. Relevant objectives for updating the legislation are:

  • creating a framework for extended producer responsibility
  • improving tools for compliance, monitoring, and enforcement
  • enabling efficient and effective controls for littering and other types of mismanaged waste (key objectives mentioned in section 2).
Promoting plastic waste re-use, recycling and recovery opportunities Yes

Specific Measures:
The Waste Minimisation Fund offers funding for projects which divert waste from landfill. More information in 3.1.1.

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Install capturing trap/filter on drainage/river No
Conduct clean-up activities in rivers/ wetlands/ beaches/ coasts/ coral reefs/ sea floor, involving local communities involving local communities No
Specific Measures:

Many ENGOs provide these opportunities, and some will have received funding from MfE, but this is not a responsibility of MfE.
Sustainable Coastlines | Sustainable Coastlines
Home | Keep New Zealand Beautiful

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Issue-specific Measures
＜1＞ Abandoned, Lost and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG)
Taken/to be taken National Level Action and/or Community Level Action on Clean sea initiatives including ghost net retrieval, ocean-bound plastics etc. No

Specific Measures:
Many ENGOs provide these services, but this is not a responsibility of MfE. Examples of ENGOs providing these services include Sea Cleaners: Sea Cleaners | We remove rubbish from the Sea, Harbours and Oceans , Ghost Diving NZ: Ghost Diving | Conservation and Sustainable Coastlines: Sustainable Coastlines | Sustainable Coastlines
Taken actions for preventing abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) being generated. No

As above.
The NZ Govt has supported the aquaculture industry to investigate sources of marine plastic pollution and actions to reduce marine pollution
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/41121-Tackling-plastic-waste-in-NZ-aquaculture-FINAL-Full-Report/

Created/creating collection/recycling mechanism for ALDFG No
＜2＞ Port Waste Reception
For waste management in ports, please provide details regarding their solid waste management practices/facilities including:
Whether there is an applicable legal framework Yes

Brief Description:
There are multiple pieces of legislation which regulate waste management in ports. Key instruments are:

  • The MARPOL 73/78 Convention - prevents and minimises pollution from ships. NZ has signed up to Annexes I,II, III, V, and VI and has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Port of Tauranga for Annex VI waste reception.
  • The Resource Management (Marine Pollution) Regulations 1998, under the Resource Management Act, 1991 - control dumping and discharges from ships and off-shore installations in the coastal marine area, including in marine waters in ports. These requirements include oil, garbage and sewage, noxious liquid substances and operational discharges, and are administered and enforced by regional councils.
  • Marine Protection Rules (administered by Maritime New Zealand) which govern port reception facilities.
The institution(s) responsible for (or playing a central role in, if voluntary action) managing the waste from ships? (example: port management authority, fishers' association...etc.) Yes

Brief Description:
Port authorities and regional councils have the primary responsibilities for landside reception and management of waste. E.g. waste contractors employed by the regional councils are responsible for the transfer, treatment, and disposal of any waste received at port reception facilities. Maritime New Zealand requires the ports to provide the infrastructure (Rule Part 100) and otherwise only regulates the ships themselves (e.g. the types of storage tanks, fittings etc.).

Whether ports possess waste reception facilities/systems to handle solid waste from ships, the volume of waste collected and the percentage of ports with waste reception facilities? Yes

Brief Description:
Maritime NZ and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) publish biannually a list of shore-based facilities that are available to dispose of ship-generated waste.

Volume of Waste Collected:
This data is not collected at a central government level.

Percentage of Ports with Waste Reception Facilities:
All major commercial ports are required to provide waste reception facilities under Marine Protection Rules Part 100, which align with the MARPOL Convention. As New Zealand’s largest port, Maritime New Zealand has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of Tauranga for Annex VI waste reception.
There are approximately 34 ports in New Zealand, but only 13 major commercial ports, all of which have waste reception facilities.

The handling procedures for each distinct waste stream once onshore. Yes

Brief Description:
Per 3.2.5 Port authorities are responsible for the reception infrastructure and regional councils employ and issue resource consents (if needed) to waste contractors who collect, transport, treat and dispose of waste as needed – e.g. to class 1 landfills, or by treatment/discharge through existing wastewater infrastructure.

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Partnership and Innovation
Boost multi-stakeholder involvement and awareness-raising Yes

Specific Measures:
The Recycling Leadership Forum was established in May 2024. The forum has an independent chair and brings together 10 brand owners and representatives from the retail, packaging, food and grocery, recycling, and local government sectors. It provides expert advice and information to the Ministry for the Environment on improving the recyclability and recovery of packaging materials. More about the forum here:
Recycling Leadership Forum | Ministry for the Environment

Encourage/ Incentivize action by private sector companies to reduce/ sustainably manage their plastic waste. Yes

Specific Measures:
The Waste Minimisation Fund continues to offer funding for projects which divert waste from landfill. The WMF is funded from a waste disposal levy. Levy rates are subject to planned increases from 2021 to 2027 to disincentivise landfilling. Minimum grants are $100,000. MfE typically provides 40% of funding but can provide 50% if the proposal has a strong public benefit, or 75% if there are highly compelling benefits to the public.

Encourage public awareness on MPL issues through formal education system and/or curriculum for No

Specific Measures:
There is no mandatory education on MPL although many schools and charities provide this education.

Promote innovative solutions through Research & Development (e.g., subsidy program, investment fund etc.) Yes

Specific Measures:
Waste Minimisation Fund mentioned in 3.3.2

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Monitoring, Data Management, Understanding Flow of Plastics/MPL
Conduct Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of plastic products. What are the challenges if LCA is not conducted? Yes

Scope: ■ Regional
Brief Description:
New Zealand is working with the state government of Western Australia (and other Australian state governments) who has commissioned research to develop life cycle assessments for six products including takeaway containers, hot cups, cold cups, bin liners, produce bags and agricultural film.
Each report compares the impacts of different product types including single use, compostable (for some) and reusable options across the products lifecycle (e.g. climate change impact, litter impact). This research has been ongoing for the past three years with the final versions of these reports completed in June 2025.
Conduct Material Flow Analysis (MFA) on plastics. What are the challenges if MFA is not conducted? Yes

Scope: ■ National
Brief Description:
With support from the Waste Minimisation Fund, in 2021 Scion (a Crown Research Institute) produced a report which included a roadmap for a circular, New Plastics Economy in New Zealand. The report included a material flow of plastic through New Zealand’s economy.
 
In 2025 the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment produced a report: Resource use and waste generation in Aotearoa new Zealand: filling (some) gaps which also showed different pathways that plastics take through the NZ economy.

Challenges (if applicable):
If we don’t have a good understanding of the flow of plastic through our economy it is challenging to create targeted and impactful policy interventions.

Conduct monitoring / estimation / scientific research on leakage of plastics/microplastics to the natural environment and/or flow of ocean surface.
What are the challenges if these actions are not conducted? 		Yes

Specific Measures:
■ Conduct monitoring/scientific research

Scope: ■ Local

Brief Description:
Central government does not routinely collect MPL data, but did provide $12.5 million in 2022 towards research to determine the impacts of microplastics in New Zealand. It was the first comprehensive research investigating the impact of microplastics and the threat to New Zealand’s bioheritage systems, environments and ecoservices.

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International Collaboration
Participate in international cooperation through international organizations, multi-national groups, etc. Yes

Specific Measures:
New Zealand is participating in the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations and is part of the high ambition coalition. We are working with other likeminded partners to achieve a practical and implementable Treaty that tackles plastic pollution in an effective manner.

Support target region by your international cooperation initiatives/projects: South, Central and Southeast Asia Yes

Target Regions:
■ Oceania

Specific Measures:

  • ANZPAC - the Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Islands Plastics Pact is a membership based, industry-led organisation, supported by govts and other agencies. The group works towards targets to decrease waste and increase circularity.
  • Cooperation with Australia regarding labelling of disposal information on packaging, notably the Australasian Recycling Label.

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Challenges

■ Recycling system improvement

Specific Challenges:

  • High levels of contamination in household recycling streams. There are few consequences for those who do not put the right materials in their recycling bin.
  • New Zealand is a small, remote island country, with a dispersed population which means:
    • limited investment is available
    • it is challenging to manage all our waste and recycling onshore (although significant improvements made since 2018)
    • we are further away from end-markets for recyclable material making it more difficult to make this a viable pathway
    • we are reliant on larger economies (eg Australia) for specialized recycling (eg e-waste, solar panels).
  • Increasing global scale of processing plants often sizes new plants above NZ’s requirements. As old plants close new plants are not opening.
  • Loss of domestic capacity has been exacerbated by recent tough economic conditions which has resulted in the closure of some processing plants, particularly for paper and cardboard.

■ Proper waste management system (including lack of local capacity)

Specific Challenges:

  • Points above
  • Waste diversion opportunities are undeveloped. E.g. product stewardship or EPR schemes are immature meaning there are few opportunities for materials to be responsibly managed, leading to high landfill rates. Approx. 40% of the waste sent to landfills is potentially divertible.

■ Data collection related to waste in general

Specific Challenges:

  • Until 2025 kerbside recycling data has not been collected by a single agency, so we did not have reliable data around how much of that material was collected and processed. In September 2025 Territorial Authorities are required to report to MfE:
    • types of materials collected
    • tonnes of materials collected
    • contamination tonnages for waste services managed by a territorial authority (eg, kerbside recycling collection)
    • facilities owned or operated by a territorial authority (eg, material recovery facility)
  • Private companies provide many of the waste services provided by municipal authorities in other countries and are not required to provide the above data to MfE. This makes it difficult for local or central government to gain a complete understanding of waste generation and flows.

■ Data collection related to marine plastic litter

Specific Challenges:
Central government does not routinely collect data related to MPL, but did provide $12.5 million in 2022 towards research to determine the impacts of microplastics in New Zealand. It was the first comprehensive research investigating the impact of microplastics and the threat to New Zealand’s bioheritage systems, environments and ecoservices.
 
An ENGO also provides extensive litter reporting (but this is limited to beaches, freshwater and stormwater systems rather than plastic in the ocean).

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Best Practices

 

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Futher Information

 

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Contact Details

Name: Romilly Cumming
Position: Senior Policy Advisor, Waste Systems Policy
Division: Waste and Resource Efficiency
Organization: Ministry for the Environment (MfE)
Email: romilly.cumming@mfe.govt.nz

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