Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve
Located in the East Coast region
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Introduction
This is a special marine reserve as it's home to eight different marine habitats including inshore reef, rocky intertidal platforms and sediment flats.Weather and sea conditions in this area can change quickly. See the Know before you go section below for more information.
View map and boundaries of Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.
For tide, boundaries and other information you can download the MarineMate app.
Image gallery
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Children snorkelling at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Children snorkelling.]( "Children snorkelling.")
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Snorkelling at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Snorkelling at the Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.]( "Snorkelling at the Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.")
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Blue moki at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Blue moki at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.]( "Blue moki at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.")
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Crayfish/koura at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Crayfish/koura at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve]( "Crayfish/koura at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve")
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Crayfish/koura at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Crayfish/koura at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve]( "Crayfish/koura at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve")
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Kina at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Kina at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.]( "Kina at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.")
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Nudibranch on the reef at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Nudibranch on reef at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.]( "Nudibranch on reef at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.")
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Scaly headed triplefin at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Scaly headed triplefin at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.]( "Scaly headed triplefin at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.")
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Variable triplefin at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Variable triplefin at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.]( "Variable triplefin at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.")
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Wandering anemone at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Wandering anemone at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.]( "Wandering anemone at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.")
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Yellow sponges at the marine reserve Image: Jamie Quirk | DOC
![Yellow Sponge (Polymastolite) at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.]( "Yellow Sponge (Polymastolite) at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.")
Video
Find things to do and places to stay Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve
At low tide, deep channels and pools are exposed in the reef, which are ideal for snorkelling. It’s a wonderful place to wander over and explore the rock pools, where you will see anemones, small fish and the large crayfish for which the area is renowned.
Underwater visibility can be low, but if you strike a calm day the deep channel running through the reef is a good place for scuba divers or snorkelers to see species such as blue moki and crayfish.
During the incoming and outgoing tide, there can sometimes be a current in the channel draining the reef platform. If you plan to snorkel or scuba dive in the channel, check the tide times beforehand and plan your dive accordingly.
Te Tapuwae o Rongokako marine reserve is on the east coast of the North Island, approximately 16 km north of Gisborne.
You can get to the reserve from SH35, public access at Pouawa.
Weather can change quickly
Weather and sea conditions can change rapidly – be prepared by checking the local tide tables and the weather forecast.
In adverse weather conditions we recommend you do not walk along the beach at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako due to the risk of landslides.
Private land
Be aware of private land. The beach above the strand line of the seaweed is private land. The pa and farmland are private property and there is no public access.
Low tide is best for snorkelling and beach-walking
Low tide is best for beach-walking and also for snorkelling or shore-diving, as the reef platform can be almost completely cut off from the open sea at low tide, creating a shallow and sheltered area for entering the water and for exploring the rocky shore.
Protect our marine reserves
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 to DOC 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.
The subtidal area of the reserve contains several distinct habitats. Down to about 10 metres in depth, a variety of seaweeds such as flapjack and kelp can be found and kina, marine snails, sponges and other animals are common. Fish species include spotties (paketi), banded wrasse (tangahangaha), red moki (nanua), hiwihiwi, butterfish (greenbone, marari), marblefish (kehe) and parore.
You may see hundreds of tiny crayfish in the crevices and overhangs, depending on the time of year. At between 10 and 20 metres depth, there are extensive kelp forests, which are home to many different fish species, such as scarlet wrasse (puwaiwhakarua), scorpionfish, sweep (hui) and leatherjackets (kokiri). Sponges, hydroids, anemones, soft corals and sea squirts thrive on the rock faces and overhangs.
The footprint of Rongokako (Te tapuwae o Rongokako), an ancestor of East Coast tradition, is embedded in one of the rocky structures of the marine reserve, close to shore.
There are many traditions surrounding Rongokako. He was a giant of great athletic prowess and dexterity, who could stride long distances. Although his origins are unclear, some say he was the father of Tamatea and came from Hawaiki in the Takitimu canoe. Others say he came in the Horouta canoe. Another version suggests that his arrival was as mysterious as his departure.
According to local tradition, Rongokako was sent by Kiwa to investigate the late arrival of the Horouta waka to Turanganui-a-Kiwa. On his arrival at Ohiwa, a disagreement arose between Rongokako and Paoa and the two giants fought. Paoa chased Rongokako down the East Coast shoreline. To help overtake Rongokako, he set a large rat trap to snare the giant's pet, an enormous kiwi. But Rongokako saw the danger and sprang the trap, which flew inland forming Mount Arowhana. The site of the trap became Tawhiti, an area between Te Puia and Tokomaru Bay.
Rongokako left footprints in the flat rocks as he strode down the eastern seaboard of the North Island. The first of these tapuwae (footprints) is at Wharekahika (Hick's Bay). The second is at Kaiora, south of Whangara mai tawhiti, from which is derived the name of this marine reserve, Te Tapuwae o Rongokako. The next footprint is located at Turanga, another at Nukutaurua, on the Mahia Peninsula. Rongokako then stepped over to Te Matau-a-Maui (Cape Kidnappers), then to the shores of Raukawa (Cook Strait). He crossed the Strait and was gone.
Kaiora, the settlement that overlooks the marine reserve, was a well populated papa kainga (village). The famous East Coast chief, Porourangi, lived here and is buried close by.
Konohi, the local chief, also inhabited the district. He had three sons Marukauiti, Te Riwai and Wahakapi, from whom the present tribe of Whangara mai tawhiti claim descent.
Protect our marine reserves
- No fishing of any kind.
- Don't take or kill marine life.
- Don't remove or disturb any marine life or materials.
- Don't feed fish - it disturbs their natural behaviour.
- Take care when anchoring to avoid damaging the sea floor.
Contacts
| DOC Customer Service Centre | |
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| Phone | 0800 275 362 |
| gisborne@doc.govt.nz | |
| Address | DOC offices |