Application for a Marine Mammal Permit by Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board
Have your say on marine mammal permit applications by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board. Submissions close at 11:59 pm on 5 May 2026.

Pursuant to section 5(5) of the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978, and to a delegation from the Minister of Conservation to the Operations Manager, Angus Hulme-Moir, the Department of Conservation notifies that they have received permit applications from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board – as follows:

  • A permit to "take" (possess) existing and future marine mammal parts in their collection in perpetuity for display and research purposes
  • An import/export permit in perpetuity for display and research purposes
  • A 15-year permit to "take" (collect) samples opportunistically from strandings for research and display purposes.

Application details

Applicant: The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Board
Application number: 119502-MAR
Location of proposed activity: Te Papa Museum ("Te Papa") Wellington, New Zealand
Permission type: Marine Mammal Permit
Summary of proposal: Permits that enable Te Papa to keep marine mammal parts in perpetuity in their collection for research and display purposes, and another separate 15-year permit to take strandings samples for research and display purposes.

Application documents:

How to make a submission

Any person or organisation may make a submission in writing to the Director-General on the proposal.

Submissions close on 5 May 2026 at 11:59 pm.

1. Prepare your submission

Record what you think in the submission form.

2. Send us your submission

You may make a submission by sending a written or electronic submission to:

Email: permissionschristchurch@doc.govt.nz 

Post:

Director-General
Department of Conservation
C/- Levi Barton
Christchurch Shared Services
Private Bag 4715
Christchurch Mail Centre
Christchurch 8140

Attention: Submission on 119502-MAR (Te Papa)

Once submitted, submitters' information is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be released under that Act. If you wish to keep any part of your submission confidential, you need to state this in writing when making your submission.

What happens next

After submissions close:

  1. DOC will analyse and consider all submissions.
  2. DOC will make a recommendation to the Minister of Conservation.
  3. The Minister of Conservation will make a decision on the application.

Decision

No details at this point. Details, such as submissions and the decision outcome, will be added when they are available.

Contact

If you have any questions about the application or the submission process, you can contact Levi Barton, Permissions Advisor via email: permissionschristchurch@doc.govt.nz