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Story: Diving and snorkelling

Swimming in a marine reserve

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Swimming in a marine reserve

Dr Bob Creese swims with a school of blue maomao at the Cape Rodney–Ōkakari Point Marine Reserve in January 2002. Lobby groups such as the New Zealand Underwater Association’s Aqua Trust have promoted the establishment of marine reserves to protect New Zealand’s significant underwater ecosystems. The first, Cape Rodney–Ōkakari Point Marine Reserve, (popularly known as Goat Island Marine Reserve), was established in 1975 near the township of Leigh north of Auckland. The University of Auckland’s marine laboratory is based at the reserve and scientific research is carried out there.

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New Zealand Herald

Reference: 20 January 2002

by Glenn Jeffrey

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Diving and snorkelling – The marine environment, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9015/swimming-in-a-marine-reserve (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009.