THE Niue Ocean Wide (NOW) Trust has been named one of 15 finalists for the prestigious Earthshot Prize 2026, nominated in the Revive Our Oceans category, recognising Niue’s innovative approach to ocean protection and sustainable resource management.
NOW supports the protection and sustainable management of more than 300,000 square kilometres of marine territory, including the Niue Moana Mahu Marine Protected Area, which covers approximately 40 percent of Niue’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
For Niue, however, ocean protection is about more than conservation. The NOW model demonstrates how innovative ocean finance can empower communities to take ownership of managing their natural resources, while creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and income generation.
By bringing together families, communities, organisations and partners, the initiative places people at the centre of ocean stewardship. This creates a pathway where communities are not simply beneficiaries of conservation, but active custodians who can help manage resources, strengthen local economies and ensure benefits remain connected to the island.
This whole-of-island approach could also provide an important model for the future of Pacific ocean finance, linking conservation with sustainable tourism, fisheries, research, education and other blue-economy opportunities.
For a small island nation, the ocean is fundamental to culture, identity, food security, livelihoods and economic resilience. Niue Ocean Wide demonstrates that protecting these resources can go hand in hand with empowering the people who depend on them.
Niue may be small, but its approach offers a powerful message: protecting their ocean can also strengthen their home, communities and future economy.
The Earthshot Prize Awards will be held in Mumbai, India, on November 17.
