Quick facts
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Commercial fishing
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Exports
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Recreational
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Asset values
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Regional asset values
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Paua catch

Paua: Asset Values

Calculating natural resource asset values is important in assessing the diversity of wealth
within New Zealand. It is also a useful tool for monitoring the use of natural resources.

Päua asset values are an extension to Statistics New Zealand's fish account, which values all New Zealand's commercial fish resources. This is part of a wider programme of natural resource accounts and valuations which can be used to assess trends, and whether New Zealand's natural resources are being sustainably utilised so they are available for future generations to enjoy and benefit from.

Under the QMS, rights to päua can be traded. When these rights are sold, the value for which they were sold is used to calculate total asset value. The total value of New Zealand's päua was calculated to be $330 million for 2003 (year ended 30 September). For the period 1996 to 2003, the value of päua has increased steadily from $143 million to $328 million, with the exception of 2000 to 2002 where the value remained relatively constant (see Figure 2).

Figure 1