Management of New Zealand marine fisheries is widely regarded as innovative and effective. However a nationwide survey in 2000 revealed that New Zealanders judge the state of New Zealand’s marine fisheries to be adequate to good, and management of the marine fisheries is only adequate. On those two criteria marine fisheries obtained the lowest ratings amongst thirteen areas of the natural environment. In this paper we report results from a 2002 nationwide survey which repeats the 2000 questions and probes further to determine which features of marine fisheries and their management lead to their comparatively low scores. Findings are consistent between the two surveys. There are clear differences in perception on the basis of ethnicity and this has a range of policy implications for fisheries and other policy managers.