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Story: Nearshore islands

Poor Knights marine reserve

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The ocean around the Poor Knights Islands was made New Zealand's second marine reserve in 1981. The most outstanding dive site in the country, the area boasts rich marine life and vast underwater landscapes.

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How to cite this page

Eileen McSaveney, Nearshore islands – Island sanctuaries, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/13040/poor-knights-marine-reserve (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Eileen McSaveney, published 1 March 2009.