Rising ocean temperatures and falling sea level are commonly cited as mechanisms of marine gas hydrate destabilization. More recently, uplift—both isostatic and tectonic—has been invoked. However, the effect of tectonic shortening and uplift on gas hydrate stability zone extent has not been validated via integrated computational modeling. Here, modeling along the Hikurangi margin of New Zealand illustrates the mechanism of tectonic uplift as a driver of gas hydrate destabilization. We simulate how tectonic uplift and shortening affect the presence and decrease the extent of a gas hydrate stability zone. We suggest that resultant gas hydrate destabilization in the marine realm may impact the global carbon cycle and oceanic chemistry over geologic time. Plain Language Summary: Gas hydrates form vast stores of carbon in marine deep water sediment. Large‐scale destabilization of gas hydrates therefore would impact the global carbon cycle and oceanic chemistry. Various causes for the destabilization of marine gas hydrate have been explored, primarily including increasing ocean temperature and falling sea level. Recent studies have also explored the impact of glacially induced isostatic rebound and of subsea mountain building—both of which comprise a form of uplift—on the destabilization of gas hydrate. Nonetheless, the impact of uplift—and in particular, tectonic uplift—has not been explored through quantitative, integrated computational modeling (i.e., basin modeling). We therefore use a forward modeling approach to illustrate the effect of tectonism on gas hydrate distribution. We show that tectonic uplift decreases the extent over which gas hydrate is stable, largely due to decreases in water depth. Our results suggest that tectonically mediated destabilization of gas hydrate should be considered as a driver of changes to the global carbon cycle over geologic timescales. Key Points: We use a basin modeling approach to predict the impact of tectonic uplift on marine gas hydrate stabilityWe show that tectonic uplift decreases gas hydrate stability zone extent (i.e., destabilizes gas hydrate)Tectonically mediated gas hydrate destabilization likely impacts the global carbon cycle over geologic timescales [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]