Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve Brochure

snorkellers and divers. and snorkellers Photo: Dive Tutukaka Dive Photo:

seabed Boaties – for the safety of all, please keep a good lookout for for lookout good a keep please all, of safety the for – Boaties

 Publishing Team, DOC National Office National DOC Team, Publishing Do not touch marine life and and life marine touch not Do

and use the minimum amount of chain necessary. necessary. chain of amount minimum the use and Editing and design: design: and Editing



Don’t let your dive gear drag gear dive your let Don’t

Drop your anchor responsibly to avoid damage to the reserve, reserve, the to damage avoid to responsibly anchor your Drop

X X December 2015 December

 Know where your fins are fins your where Know reserve.

Department of Conservation, Whangarei Office Whangarei Conservation, of Department

Waste, ballast and sewage must not be discharged within the the within discharged be not must sewage and ballast Waste,

X X

Published by: by: Published

 Be neutrally buoyant neutrally Be

m 50 of any other boat or swimmer. swimmer. or boat other any of within and flag, dive a

Photo: Vincent Zintzen Vincent Photo: maomao. blue of School COVER: DIVING CARE CODE CARE DIVING

m 200 of shore or any boat with with boat any or shore of within km/h) 9 (about knots 5

Photo: Crispin Middleton Crispin Photo: ABOVE:

is Zealand New in boats all for permitted speed max The X X

Regulations 1993). These are summarised as: as: summarised are These 1993). Regulations

the boating rules of marine reserves (see the Marine Reserves Reserves Marine the (see reserves marine of rules boating the 2,000 m 2,000 1,000 0

DOC office or the DOC Hotline. Hotline. DOC the or office DOC

fun ways to explore the reserve – but familiarise yourself with with yourself familiarise but – reserve the explore to ways fun

E " 14.885 ' 42 ° 174

life and habitats to your nearest nearest your to habitats and life

If you are not keen to take the plunge, kayaking and boating are are boating and kayaking plunge, the take to keen not are you If

S " 27.644 ' 34 ° 35

events that may impact on marine marine on impact may that events

! Enjoying the reserve – on the water the on – reserve the Enjoying

Please report unusual activities or or activities unusual report Please

go with someone experienced and who has local knowledge. local has who and experienced someone with go

snorkel, or dive enjoyable and safe a For currents. strong

(09) 470 3300 470 (09) Ph:

800 m 800

with deep be can Islands Knights Poor around waters The

[email protected] Email: Email:

world. Please refer to the Diving Care Code before doing so. doing before Code Care Diving the to refer Please world. Sugarloaf Rock Sugarloaf

Raumanga, Whangarei 0110 Whangarei Raumanga, the reserve, as these allow you to interact with the underwater underwater the with interact to you allow these as reserve, the

2 South End Avenue End South 2 Diving, swimming, snorkelling are the best ways to experience experience to ways best the are snorkelling swimming, Diving,

Whangarei Office Whangarei

Enjoying the reserve – in the water the in – reserve the Enjoying

A !

Further information: Further 174°42'14.888"E

35°33'32.826"S

Tie Dye Arch Dye Tie Bay Crater

5 10 174°44'12.063"E

35°33'0.101"S

Jans Tunnel Jans Point Hope 4 9

174°42'53.062"E

3 Blue Maomao Arch Maomao Blue Arch Middle 8 35°32'46.34"S A Rocks !

High Peak Peak High

800 m 800 2 7 Rikoriko Cave Rikoriko Arch Barren

1 6 Trevors Rock Trevors Arch Northern

A !

174°43'25.063"E

35°32'19.901"S Photo: Vincent Zintzen Vincent Photo:

35°26'12.243"S

174°44'10.337"E

A! habitat.’ natural its in life marine record and

Poor Knights observe, study, to opportunity the measure full

Islands Poor Knights in enjoy may they that so reserves, the to entry Tutukaka and access of freedom have shall public ‘The

Whangarei

Te Paki Point Islands Marine that: states which 1971, Act Reserves Marine 800 m the under protected are reserves Marine

Maomao B

ay Reserve 174°44'19.31"E

35°26'51.878"S A! Haku Point 35°29'56.175"S

A 174°43'20.13"E Te Araara Point ! A! 35°26'56.142"S AUCKLAND Tower Point Ngaroimata Bay 174°45'6.974"E NORTHLAND Ngariomata Point Tawhiti Rahi Marine Reserve Island

– no ﬁshing Cave Bay

Archway Island Archway

Nature Reserve Maratea Point Rock Ngoio oint P

35°27'31.592"S A! Pinakitanga

– no landing 174°43'23.645"E 174°43'25.975"E

! 9 35°29'13.48"S

A A 35°27'36.541"S Island Aorangaia ! Hope Point 174°45'25.025"E

800 m Ro 174°45'13.004"E

c 35°29'5.668"S

k A lil !

y I

nl Bay Punawai e Point Ramariki

Shag Bay t

oint P Kahawai

Island

Foam Bay Foam Aorangi

Skull Bay Poor Knights Hoiho Point Bay Maroro Motu Kapiti A! 35°28'9.739"S

174°44'55.793"E Islands oint P Island Maroro

! 174°43'16.753"E

A Kaka Rock Urupa Point B

35°28'24.326"S a

y y

a 35°28'24.326"S Kaka Rock Kaka A oint P B Urupa 174°43'16.753"E ! ter

Maroro Point Island 174°44'55.793"E Islands

Motu Kapiti Motu

35°28'9.739"S A

Maroro Bay Point Hoiho

Poor Knights Poor Aorangi Bay Skull Foam Bay

Kahawai Point Island

Shag Bay Shag

Ramariki Point e

Punawai Bay n I

! l

A k 35°29'5.668"S c o

800 m 800 174°45'13.004"E

oint P 174°45'25.025"E Hope

35°27'36.541"S

35°29'13.48"S A Aorangaia Island A

9 8 !

174°43'23.645"E

174°43'25.975"E landing no –

35°27'31.592"S

Pinakitanga Point !

Nature Reserve Reserve Nature

nt i o P Ngoio Rock Maratea

Archway Island

Cave Bay Cave – no ﬁshing no –

Island Marine Reserve Reserve Marine

Tawhiti Rahi Tawhiti

Ngariomata Point Ngariomata

NORTHLAND

oint P ower T Ngaroimata Bay Ngaroimata 174°45'6.974"E

AUCKLAND

35°26'56.142"S A

174°43'20.13"E

oint P Araara e

A! T

Haku Point Haku

35°26'51.878"S A

35°29'56.175"S !

Reserve

174°44'19.31"E a

o a

m a o

Marine reserves are protected under the m 800

e Paki Point Point Paki e T

Marine Reserves Act 1971, which states that: Marine Islands

Whangarei

utukaka ‘The public shall have freedom of access and T

Poor Knights Knights Poor nds a

entry to the reserves, so that they may enjoy in Isl oor Knights oor

full measure the opportunity to study, observe, P

and record marine life in its natural habitat.’ ! 174°44'10.337"E

Map continued on next page 35°26'12.243"S

Photo: Vincent Zintzen

35°32'19.901"S 174°43'25.063"E A! 1 Northern Arch 6 Trevors Rock

800 m 2 Barren Arch 7 Rikoriko Cave High Peak 35°32'46.34"S A! Rocks 3 Middle Arch 8 Blue Maomao Arch 174°42'53.062"E 4 9 A! Hope Point Jans Tunnel 35°33'0.101"S 174°44'12.063"E 5 Crater Bay 10 Tie Dye Arch

35°33'32.826"S 174°42'14.888"E Further information: A! Enjoying the reserve – in the water Whangarei Office Diving, swimming, snorkelling are the best ways to experience 2 South End Avenue the reserve, as these allow you to interact with the underwater Raumanga, Whangarei 0110 Sugarloaf Rock world. Please refer to the Diving Care Code before doing so. Email: [email protected] The waters around Poor Knights Islands can be deep with 800 m Ph: (09) 470 3300 strong currents. For a safe and enjoyable dive or snorkel, go with someone experienced and who has local knowledge.

Please report unusual activities or A! Enjoying the reserve – on the water events that may impact on marine 35°34'27.644"S ¯ If you are not keen to take the plunge, kayaking and boating are 174°42'14.885"E life and habitats to your nearest fun ways to explore the reserve – but familiarise yourself with DOC office or the DOC Hotline. 0 1,000 2,000 m the boating rules of marine reserves (see the Marine Reserves Regulations 1993). These are summarised as:

XXThe max speed permitted for all boats in New Zealand is ABOVE: Photo: Crispin Middleton 5 knots (about 9 km/h) within 200 m of shore or any boat with DIVING CARE CODE COVER: School of blue maomao. Photo: Vincent Zintzen a dive flag, and within50 m of any other boat or swimmer.  Be neutrally buoyant XXWaste, ballast and sewage must not be discharged within the Published by:  Know where your fins are reserve. Department of Conservation, Whangarei Office December 2015  Don’t let your dive gear drag XX Drop your anchor responsibly to avoid damage to the reserve, and use the minimum amount of chain necessary. Editing and design:  Do not touch marine life and Publishing Team, DOC National Office seabed Boaties – for the safety of all, please keep a good lookout for Photo: Dive Tutukaka snorkellers and divers.

snorkellers and divers. and snorkellers Photo: Dive Tutukaka Dive Photo:

seabed Boaties – for the safety of all, please keep a good lookout for for lookout good a keep please all, of safety the for – Boaties

 Publishing Team, DOC National Office National DOC Team, Publishing Do not touch marine life and and life marine touch not Do

and use the minimum amount of chain necessary. necessary. chain of amount minimum the use and Editing and design: design: and Editing



Don’t let your dive gear drag gear dive your let Don’t

Drop your anchor responsibly to avoid damage to the reserve, reserve, the to damage avoid to responsibly anchor your Drop

X X December 2015 December

 Know where your fins are fins your where Know reserve.

Department of Conservation, Whangarei Office Whangarei Conservation, of Department

Waste, ballast and sewage must not be discharged within the the within discharged be not must sewage and ballast Waste,

X X

Published by: by: Published

 Be neutrally buoyant neutrally Be

m 50 of any other boat or swimmer. swimmer. or boat other any of within and flag, dive a

Photo: Vincent Zintzen Vincent Photo: maomao. blue of School COVER: DIVING CARE CODE CARE DIVING

m 200 of shore or any boat with with boat any or shore of within km/h) 9 (about knots 5

Photo: Crispin Middleton Crispin Photo: ABOVE:

is Zealand New in boats all for permitted speed max The X X

Regulations 1993). These are summarised as: as: summarised are These 1993). Regulations

the boating rules of marine reserves (see the Marine Reserves Reserves Marine the (see reserves marine of rules boating the 2,000 m 2,000 1,000 0

DOC office or the DOC Hotline. Hotline. DOC the or office DOC

fun ways to explore the reserve – but familiarise yourself with with yourself familiarise but – reserve the explore to ways fun

E " 14.885 ' 42 ° 174

life and habitats to your nearest nearest your to habitats and life

If you are not keen to take the plunge, kayaking and boating are are boating and kayaking plunge, the take to keen not are you If

S " 27.644 ' 34 ° 35

events that may impact on marine marine on impact may that events

! Enjoying the reserve – on the water the on – reserve the Enjoying

Please report unusual activities or or activities unusual report Please

go with someone experienced and who has local knowledge. local has who and experienced someone with go

snorkel, or dive enjoyable and safe a For currents. strong

(09) 470 3300 470 (09) Ph:

800 m 800

with deep be can Islands Knights Poor around waters The

[email protected] Email: Email:

world. Please refer to the Diving Care Code before doing so. doing before Code Care Diving the to refer Please world. Sugarloaf Rock Sugarloaf

Raumanga, Whangarei 0110 Whangarei Raumanga, the reserve, as these allow you to interact with the underwater underwater the with interact to you allow these as reserve, the

2 South End Avenue End South 2 Diving, swimming, snorkelling are the best ways to experience experience to ways best the are snorkelling swimming, Diving,

Whangarei Office Whangarei

Enjoying the reserve – in the water the in – reserve the Enjoying

A !

Further information: Further 174°42'14.888"E

35°33'32.826"S

Tie Dye Arch Dye Tie Bay Crater

5 10 174°44'12.063"E

35°33'0.101"S

Jans Tunnel Jans Point Hope 4 9

174°42'53.062"E

3 Blue Maomao Arch Maomao Blue Arch Middle 8 35°32'46.34"S A Rocks !

High Peak Peak High

800 m 800 2 7 Rikoriko Cave Rikoriko Arch Barren

1 6 Trevors Rock Trevors Arch Northern

A !

174°43'25.063"E

35°32'19.901"S

Photo: Vincent Zintzen Vincent Photo:

and record marine life in its natural habitat.’ natural its in life marine record and

full measure the opportunity to study, observe, observe, study, to opportunity the measure full

Poor Knights in enjoy may they that so reserves, the to entry

‘The public shall have freedom of access and and access of freedom have shall public ‘The

Islands Marine that: states which 1971, Act Reserves Marine

Marine reserves are protected under the the under protected are reserves Marine

Reserve 174°44'19.31"E 35°29'56.175"S

A !

NORTHLAND

Archway Island Archway

Ngoio Rock Ngoio

oint P Pinakitanga

174°43'25.975"E

35°29'13.48"S

A Aorangaia Island Aorangaia !

174°45'25.025"E

35°29'5.668"S A !

Punawai Bay Punawai

Ramariki Point Ramariki

oint P Kahawai

Island

Foam Bay Foam

Aorangi

Maroro Bay Maroro

oint P Maroro

174°43'16.753"E B

35°28'24.326"S Kaka Rock Kaka A oint P Urupa !

Island 174°44'55.793"E Islands

Motu Kapiti Motu

35°28'9.739"S

A ! Hoiho Point Hoiho

Poor Knights Poor

Skull Bay Skull

Shag Bay Shag

c o

800 m 800 174°45'13.004"E

oint P Hope

35°27'36.541"S

A !

174°43'23.645"E

– no landing no –

35°27'31.592"S

Nature Reserve Reserve Nature nt i o P Maratea

Cave Bay Cave – no ﬁshing no –

Island Marine Reserve Reserve Marine

Tawhiti Rahi Tawhiti

Ngariomata Point Ngariomata

oint P ower T Ngaroimata Bay Ngaroimata 174°45'6.974"E

AUCKLAND

35°26'56.142"S A

174°43'20.13"E oint P Araara e T

Haku Point Haku

35°26'51.878"S A !

a M m a o

800 m 800

e Paki Point Point Paki e T

Whangarei

utukaka T

nds a Isl

oor Knights oor P

A !

174°44'10.337"E 35°26'12.243"S Tambja verconis, a brightly coloured Blue dot triplefin. Sc n, DOC hool of starry toado. Photo: Marie Jorda nudibranch. Photo: Crispin Middleton Photo: Vincent Zintzen

On the land The Poor Knights Islands, including Sugarloaf Rock and High Peak Rocks (Pinnacles) to the south, are all Nature Reserves and protected under the Reserves Act 1977. The islands are a unique ecosystem that provide a glimpse Ngātiwai are an ancient people who were of life in ancient New Zealand – they are a precious known as Ngātiwai ki te moana (those who biological gem. lived along the east coast and offshore islands) and Ngātiwai ki te tua whenua (those The reserve is located around 22 km off the east Under the sea who lived inland e.g. Ngāti Hine). Ngātiwai descend from Manaia, Tamatea and coast of Northland. It extends 800 m offshore Beneath the waves at Poor Knights is an ocean’s worth of Tahuhunuioterangi. The mana of Ngātiwai from all the Poor Knights Islands and associated diving. The caves, arches, tunnels and sheer cliffs provide is water and this is remembered by Manaia islets, rocks and stacks including Sugarloaf Rock a great variety of habitats to explore. From turbulent sunlit saying to his descendants: “Although you and High Peak Rocks (Pinnacles). waters and kelp forest on the upper reaches of the tumbling stand on land, you stand also in the sea.” giant ‘staircase’ to the dark waters of the islands’ many You are invited to swim, dive and travel within Ngātiwai occupied many islands including caves, the Poor Knights offer an extraordinary variety of the reserve but you are not permitted to disturb Tawhiti Rahi and Aorangi (Poor Knights). underwater experiences. the marine life or to land on any part of the They are the kaitiaki (guardians) of a sacred islands or rocks. Sponge gardens and gorgonian fields are inhabited by a covenant placed on the islands by the Ringa multitude of fish, shellfish, urchins and anemones, with Kaha Te Tatua (chief) in 1822. This tapu was black coral found in deeper waters. The steep cliffs that placed following the massacre of his people What are marine reserves? fringe the islands plunge up to 100 m below sea level while he and his warriors were absent. before reaching a sandy sea floor. Marine reserves are areas of sea where all marine life The arches are some of the most interesting places to is protected – fishing, gathering shellfish and any other explore. A rich nutrient soup washes through them, which disturbance of marine life is prohibited. feeds the countless animals competing for space on the Free from exploitation, marine reserves return to a near- walls. Squadrons of stingrays cruise the waters of the natural state. This makes them ideal for studying marine archways during warmer months. life in an environment where there is minimal direct human disturbance, and provides an invaluable reference point to compare with other, less pristine, habitats. The Department of Conservation (DOC) looks after the country’s marine reserves on behalf of all New Zealanders. Their protection depends on the care and vigilance of their users.

History of the reserve During the late 60s and 70s, divers around Poor Knights discovered large numbers of marine plants and animals that had not been seen before in New Zealand. Many were endemic, ie are only found in New Zealand. Others were tropical, carried to Poor Knights by the East Auckland current. Please remember Huge schools of trevally fed on the surface and divers saw kingfish, snapper and hāpuka in numbers unheard Marine Reserve of today. Because of the amazing diversity and The following activities are strictly prohibited under the Marine Reserves Act 1971 and offenders will be prosecuted: abundance of marine life, part of the islands became New Zealand’s second marine Fishing of any kind reserve in 1981. In 1998, the islands Taking or disturbing any marine life, including became fully protected to 800 m shellfish, seaweeds and sea urchins – this from the shore. includes feeding fish Taking of any part of the sea floor including rocks and shells. OC an, D ie Jord Offences under the Marine Reserves Act 1971 have Photo: Mar penalties of up to 3 months imprisonment or a $250,000 fine or both. You may also have your vessel, fishing or diving equipment seized. Any unlawfully taken marine life will be seized. Nature Reserve Landing on any of the Poor Knights Islands and associated rocks is strictly prohibited and boats must not be tied to any part of the shoreline. These rules are to protect the islands from fire and the accidental introduction of pests such as rats, cats and invasive weeds. Any one of these could result in an ecological catastrophe for the islands’ habitats and the species that survive on them.

Commercial fishing Commercial fishing is prohibited in the marine reserve and MPI regulations also state: (i) No commercial fishing except long lining is permitted within a 3 nautical miles of the islands, and (ii) No commercial fishing (all methods) is permitted within 1 nautical mile of the islands.

Long finned boar fish. TOP: Scorpian fish. Photo: Vincent Zintzen Photo: Irene Middleton BOTTOM: Photo: Vincent Zintzen Tambja verconis, a brightly coloured Blue dot triplefin. Sc n, DOC hool of starry toado. Photo: Marie Jorda nudibranch. Photo: Crispin Middleton Photo: Vincent Zintzen

Long finned boar fish. TOP: Scorpian fish. Photo: Vincent Zintzen Photo: Irene Middleton BOTTOM: Photo: Vincent Zintzen