They're now in the same category as our kakapo, archey's frogs and maui's dolphins.....
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/nz-sea-lions-risk-extinction-3597861
This is how 'nationally critical' is defined -
Nationally Critical
A. Very small population (natural or unnatural)
A taxon is ‘Nationally Critical’, regardless of population trend and regardless
of whether the population size is natural or unnatural, when evidence7
indicates that:
1. There are fewer than 250 mature individuals; or
2. There are ≤ 2 sub-populations and ≤ 200 mature individuals in the largest
sub-population; or
3. The total area of occupancy is ≤ 1 ha (0.01 km2).
B. Small population (natural or unnatural) with a high ongoing or
predicted decline
A taxon is ‘Nationally Critical’ when evidence indicates that it fits at least one
Status criterion and the Trend criterion as follows:
Status
1. The population comprises 250–1000 mature individuals; or
2. There are ≤ 5 sub-populations and ≤ 300 mature individuals in the largest
sub-population; or
3. The total area of occupancy is ≤ 10 ha (0.1 km2).
Trend
There is an ongoing or predicted decline of 50–70% in the total population
due to existing threats, taken over the next 10 years or three generations,
whichever is longer.
C. Population (irrespective of size or number of sub-populations)
with a very high ongoing or predicted decline (> 70%)
A taxon is ‘Nationally Critical’ when the population has an ongoing trend
or predicted decline of > 70% in the total population due to existing threats
taken over the next 10 years or three generations, whichever is longer.