Pōhatu Marine Reserve’s rock pools are home to dense communities of smaller sea creatures, and beneath the waves. It features a diverse range of water depths and seabed types. This combination of interesting topography and abundant marine life, both above and below the waterline, makes Pōhatu well worth a visit despite its remoteness.
Wildlife
About 2,600 kororā (white-flippered/little penguins) and some hoiho (yellow-eyed penguins) breed at Pōhatu, which boasts the largest little penguin colony on the mainland.
They can be seen clustered in the undergrowth of the surrounding hills, up to 700 meters from the shore, and swimming in the bay in large coordinated groups. The outer reserve hosts a seal colony, and it is often visited by Hector’s dolphins and orcas, making the waters quite crowded on a good day.
The rocky shore platform around the edge of Flea Bay is rich with small animals and plants. Visitors who enjoy rockpooling will find a variety of crabs, shellfish, anemones, and seaweed. Albatrosses also cruise these waters and are most likely to be seen from the headlands.
Research
The Iongairo project, a partnership between papatipu rūnanga, ECan, the University of Otago and DOC to create detailed seafloor habitat maps around Banks Peninsula. This work will improve our knowledge of the biodiversity across the southern side of Banks Peninsula so we can protect these special areas.
Reporting pests
Find-A-Pest lets you report potential pest species, including marine, plant, animal and fungal species.
If you come across something out of the ordinary, upload a picture to the app and a specialist will help identify it. If it's a biosecurity threat, this will be forwarded to Biosecurity New Zealand. If possible, take photos and record the location and name of the vessel.
Or call the Ministry for Primary Industries' Pest and Diseases hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
Report illegal or suspicious activity
Don't take, disturb, kill or damage anything within the reserve - it's illegal. If you see people taking anything from the reserve, report the activity as soon as possible.
You can call 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224) or 0800 DOCHOT (0800 362 468).
It is also an offence to pollute or litter the reserve, discharge any firearm in or into the reserve or erect any structure in the reserve.
No dogs allowed