The Department of Conservation is responsible for administering and managing sanctuaries for the protection of marine mammals. These responsibilities are written into the legislation, most prominently the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, but also the Kaikōura (Te Tai o Marokura) Marine Management Act 2014.
These sanctuaries may prohibit activities known to harm particular marine mammal species such as dolphins, whales, seals and sea lions.Definitions of the current boundaries of the Marine Mammal Sanctuaries are contained within the following notices:· Marine Mammals Protection (Banks Peninsula Sanctuary)Notice 1988· Marine Mammals Protection (Auckland Islands Sanctuary)Notice 1993· Marine Mammals Protection (West Coast North Island Sanctuary)Notice 2008· Marine Mammals Protection (Clifford and Cloudy Bay Sanctuary)Notice 2008· Marine Mammals Protection (Te Waewae Bay Sanctuary)Notice 2008· Marine Mammals Protection (Caitlins Coast Sanctuary)Notice 2008
