What’s so great about Tapuae Marine Reserve?
Purpose: Conservation of marine life and the ecosystem.
Activities: Snorkelling, diving, tide pooling, and walking are permitted.
Restrictions: No fishing, no removal of marine life or natural materials.
Click to discover what makes Tapuae Marine Reserve special…
Tapuae Marine Reserve became a marine reserve after 8 years of negotiations and community discussions, in 2008. It is 1,404 ha and is next to the Sugar Loaf Island marine protected area. It provides a safe haven and nursery for a wealth of underwater life.
Ngā Motu is a group of seven islands near Te Pukenga (Paritūtū Centennial Park), formed from the remains of an ancient volcano over 1.75 million years ago. The soft rock has eroded away, leaving sea stacks and islands that provide shelter along the exposed coastline. The islands, including Mikotahi, Moturoa, and Motumahanga, are home to unique underwater features like cliffs and canyons. The waters around Ngā Motu have been protected since 1986 and are home to a variety of marine life, including fish, sponges, seals, seabirds, dolphins, and whales. Te Pukenga is a coastal park including Paritūtū. It stretches along 60 hectares with three kilometres of coastline, making it a popular spot for
recreation. People visit for activities like walking, fishing, surfing, diving and snorkelling. The area is also home to native plants like tuapata and harakeke, and the southern part is fenced off for grazing management.
Whenua and Tangata Whenua This coastal area is very special to Ngā Mahanga a Tairi, the local people of this region and part of the Taranaki Iwi. They have a deep connection to the land because it ties them to their ancestors and their history, both spiritually and physically. This bond has stayed strong over time. For many generations, they lived peacefully, following their traditions and getting food from the sea, forests, and rivers. Some of their ancestors became spiritual guardians (kaitiaki) of these areas, protecting them. The islands and land, known as Ngā Motu, Paritūtū, and Te Pukenga, are sacred and hold great cultural and spiritual importance for them.
Kaitiaki At the mouth of the Herekawe River, a special guardian (kaitiaki) in the form of a shark protects the area. Onukutaipari, once a place for learning carving, was where a chief and his people built a waka (canoe) from a Totara tree. After the chief passed away, his people finished the waka and buried him with it. Today, the grave is still there, guarded by a kaitiaki in the form of a hammerhead shark. In the southern part of the land, another kaitiaki, a whale, has been protecting an ancient burial ground (urupa) since the early 1500s. This whale travels far distances but always returns to guard the area.
