• biogeographic regions which give a broad overview of New Zealand's marine environment at the meso-scale (100's-1000's km). The biogeographical regions are described according to large scale physical features and indicative biotic assemblages . Eight biogeographic regions have been identified as follows: Kermadec; Three Kings and North Cape; Northeastern; Central; Chatham Islands; Southern; Snares Island; Subantarctic.
• The coastal marine units within each biogeographical region provide the micro-scale (10's-100's km) framework. They are described according to a combination of geomorphological features, local scale watermass influences and biotic beatures such as rocky reef or soft sediment assemblages. These units focus on the nearshore area, using the Territorial Sea as an administrative boundary to be consistent with the requirements of the Marine Reserves Act 1971.

Offshore pelagic or benthic biogeographic areas are not addressed in this spatial framework because of the lack of offshore information available beyond approximately 100m depth.

A number of people have been involved in the development of this framework. E.g. Preliminary boundaries and descriptive material were contributed by DOC coastal conservancies. There may, therefore, have been different approaches to unit definition in different parts of New Zealand.

• Biogeographical regions: 100's-1000's km coastline length
• Coastal marine units: 10's-100's km coastline length