New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 has over thirty marine reserve

Marine reserve

For the United States Marine Corps Reserve see: Marine Forces ReserveA marine reserve is an area of the sea which has legal protection against fishing or development. This is to be distinguished from a marine park, but there is some overlap in usage...

s spread around the North

North Island

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...

, the South

South Island

The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...

 Island, and neighbouring islands, and another two on outlying island groups. They are governed by the Marine Reserves Act 1971

Marine Reserves Act 1971

The Marine Reserves Act is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand.In 2000 the Department of Conservation started a review of the Act resulting in a draft Marine Reserves Bill that was introduced into Parliament in June 2002.-External links:*...

 and administered by the Department of Conservation with assistance from the Ministry of Fisheries, New Zealand Customs and the New Zealand Defence Forces.

History

The Marine Reserves Act was passed by the Parliament of New Zealand in 1971. In 2000 the Department of Conservation started a review of the Act resulting in a draft Marine Reserves Bill that was introduced into Parliament in June 2002, but has not yet been voted on.

The first marine reserve to be created was the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve

Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve

Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve is a protected area in the North Island of New Zealand. Goat Island lies within the reserve and Leigh is the closest town. Auckland University operate a marine laboratory at the reserve...

. The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve

Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve

The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve is a protected area off the coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The reserve, established in 1981 and covering an area of 2400 ha, is administered by the Department of Conservation. It surrounds the Poor Knights Islands and adjacent rock stacks. It is...

 was established next, although with only a partial ban on fishing; a full ban was implemented in 1998. The first two marine reserves in Fiordland were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993. An additional eight reserves were established in Fiordland on the recommendation of the Guardians of Fiordland in 2005. The Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve

Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve

The Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve is a protected area in the North Island of New Zealand. It was established in 2006 and is approximately 240 ha over two sites...

 was established in 2006 with the active support of the students and faculty of nearby Kamo High School.

Effects

The abundance of fish within the reserves creates spillover, or larval export, that boosts catches in neighbouring areas. In general, the reserves tend to attract a lot of recreational divers and fishermen. The divers are attracted to the abundant fish, coral, etc inside the reserves. The fishermen are attracted to the areas just outside the reserves – where spillover creates an abundance of large game fish not found in other areas.

The Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve

Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve

Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve is a protected area in the North Island of New Zealand. Goat Island lies within the reserve and Leigh is the closest town. Auckland University operate a marine laboratory at the reserve...

, in particular, receives more than 200,000 visitors per year. It is a popular spot for snorkelers and scuba-divers, due to the abundance and diversity of fish now living within the reserve after over 30 years of protection. Species that can be found in the reserve include Australasian snapper

Australasian snapper

The Australasian snapper or Pagrus auratus is a species of porgie found in coastal waters of New Zealand and Australia. Although it is almost universally known in these countries as snapper it does not belong to the Lutjanidae family...

 and New Zealand sea urchin (kina).

List of reserves

List of marine reserves in New Zealand

Name	Area (ha)	Date created
Auckland Islands Marine Reserve	498,000	2003
Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve is a protected area in the North Island of New Zealand. Goat Island lies within the reserve and Leigh is the closest town. Auckland University operate a marine laboratory at the reserve...  (Goat Island)	518	1975
Hawea Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...  (Clio Rocks)	411	2005
Horoirangi Marine Reserve	904	2006
Kahukura Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...  (Gold Arm)	464	2005
Kapiti Marine Reserve Kapiti Marine Reserve Kapiti Marine Reserve is a protected area on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies between Paraparaumu and Waikanae beaches and Kapiti Island and is 30 kilometres north of the capital city Wellington....	2167	1992
Kermadec Islands Marine Reserve	748,000	1990
Kutu Parera Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...	433	2005
Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve	980	1995
Long Island-Kokomohua Marine Reserve	619	1993
Mayor Island Marine Reserve (Tuhua)	1060	1992
Moana Uta Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...	2007	2005
Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve Motu Manawa Marine Reserve is a protected area in the Waitemata Harbour in New Zealand. It is intersected by State Highway 16 and contains Pollen and Traherne Islands. The marine reserve was established in 1995.-External links:...	500	1995
Parininihi Marine Reserve	1800	2006
Piopiotahi Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...  (Milford Sound Milford Sound Milford Sound is a fjord in the south west of New Zealand's South Island, within Fiordland National Park, Piopiotahi Marine Reserve, and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site... )	690	1993
Pohatu Marine Reserve	215	1993
Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve is a protected area off the coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The reserve, established in 1981 and covering an area of 2400 ha, is administered by the Department of Conservation. It surrounds the Poor Knights Islands and adjacent rock stacks. It is...	2400	1981
Taipari Roa Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...	613	2005
Tapuae Marine Reserve Tapuae Marine Reserve Tapuae Marine Reserve is a marine reserve created in 2008 off the Taranaki coast of New Zealand.It protects an area of 1404 ha and adjoins the Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area.-External links:* - Tapuae Marine Reserve...	1404	2008
Taputeranga Marine Reserve Taputeranga Marine Reserve Taputeranga Marine Reserve is a legally protected area of sea and coast along the southern edge of Wellington City, in New Zealand. It was officially opened in September 2008.-Location and area:...	854	2008
Taumoana Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...	1466	2005
Te Angiangi Marine Reserve	446	1997
Te Awaatu Channel Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...  (The Gut)	93	1993
Te Hapua Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...	449	2005
Te Matuku Bay Marine Reserve	690	2003
Te Paepae o Aotea Marine Reserve	1 267.24	2006
Te Tapuwae O Hua Marine Reserve Fiordland's marine reserves There are ten marine reserves in Fiordland region of New Zealand's South Island. They protect a wide variety of species and habitats. The original two reserves were established at the request of New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen in 1993...	3672	2005
Te Tapuwae O Rongokako Marine Reserve	2452	1999
Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve is a marine reserve on the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand.Cathedral Cove is named after the cave located there linking Mare’s Leg Cove to Cathedral Cove. Gemstone Bay and Stingray Bay are also located within the reserve...  (Cathedral Cove)	840	1993
Tonga Island Marine Reserve Tonga Island Marine Reserve Tonga Island Marine Reserve is a protected area on the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It surrounds Tonga Island and is next to the Abel Tasman National Park. The marine reserve was created in 1993 and covers an area of .-External links:...	1835	1993
Ulva Island/Te Wharawhara Marine Reserve	1075	2004
Westhaven Marine Reserve (Te Tai Tapu)	536	1994
Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve The Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve is a protected area in the North Island of New Zealand. It was established in 2006 and is approximately 240 ha over two sites...	254	2006

In August 2011 the establishment of five new marine reserves for the West Coast

West Coast, New Zealand

The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...

 was announced by the government.

External links

• Marine reserves & other protected areas at New Zealand Department of Conservation
  New Zealand Department of Conservation
  The Department of Conservation , commonly known by its acronym, "DOC", is the state sector organisation which deals with the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage...
  
  
• Effects of a 30-year fishing ban – NIWA
  National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
  The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research or NIWA , is a Crown Research Institute of New Zealand. Established in 1992, NIWA conducts commercial and non-commercial research across a broad range of disciplines in the environmental sciences...
  
  
• Forest and Bird – The Benefits of Marine Reserves