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.