HAHEI Marine Reserve

Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve & Mautohe Cathedral Cove

Te Whanganui-o-Hei marine reserve was established in 1992 - New Zealand’s sixth marine reserve! There is no fishing or gathering of any kind in a marine reserve, and this allows for the ecosystem to restore its natural balance. Marine reserves have been hugely successful in restoring marine ecosystems, including our fish stocks, across Aotearoa. Te Whanganui-o-Hei marine reserve was recently extended under the Tīkapa Moana Hauraki Gulf Marine Protection Act (2025) it is now more than double the size! Covering around 23km2, the reserve is a vibrant ecosystem above and below the surface. Te Whanganui-o-Hei area was named after Hei, a tohunga of the Te Arawa waka who claimed the area for his people. The marine reserve is administered by the Department of Conservation in partnership with Ngati Hei.

Tīkapa Moana Hauraki Marine Protection Act

The Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Act (2025) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s most significant increase in marine protection in over a decade. It aims to enhance the health and mauri of Hauraki

Gulf/Tīkapa Moana/Te Moananui-a-Toi so we can enjoy clear waters, thriving sea life, and a healthy, resilient ecosystem for generations to come.   The protections include: two marine reserves extensions, twelve high protection areas (HPAs) – these areas protect and restore marine ecosystems. They allow active restoration of the underwater habitat and five seafloor protection areas (SPAs) – these areas protect seafloor habitats from high impact activities.

More information on these areas is available on Department of Conservation’s website

The Friends of Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve Trust

The Friends of Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve Trust was established in 2010, to raise funds for the marine reserve. Members of the Trust are made up of two representatives appointed by Ngāti Hei and five representatives from the community.

Through grants and donations, the trust can deliver on the education potential of the reserve. We are extremely pleased to be able to help with the funding needed to deliver The Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust’s programmes, Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) and The Whitebait Connection (WBC), for little or no cost to local area schools. The focus of the EMR programme is to provide quality education opportunities, increasing awareness, and encouraging action and support for marine conservation in New Zealand. If your school is interested in the programme go to The Friends of Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve Trust.

The Trust also raises funds for other projects within the Te Whanganui-o-Hei and Mautohe Cathedral Cove, including the Hahei Reserves Group. This group is run by local volunteers and does a variety of planting, pest trapping, and weed control in the area.

If you would like to contribute, donations can be made to The Friends of Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve Trust.
The Trust is a non-profit charity CC43790.

Direct Credit to: The Friends of Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve Trust Westpac – 03 1578 0095821 00

Scan the QR code to make a donation:

Related Links

Ngati Hei www.ngatihei.iwi.nz

Department of Conservation https://www.doc.govt.nz

Mountains to Sea www.mountainstosea.org.nz

Waitama Gemstone Bay

An amazing way to experience Te Whanganui-o-Hei Marine Reserve is by visiting Waimata Gemstone Bay. On a calm day, it is an easy kayak from Hahei Beach to the Waimata Gemstone Bay snorkel trail and experience the wonders of marine protection in action. At Waimata there are two buoys with information about the local marine creatures you may see below. The buoys also have handles which you can hold onto so everyone can feel comfortable in the water. The best part about Waimata is the range of habitats that the boulder beach, soft sand and seaweed beds provide. More diverse habitats = more diverse creatures! Watch out for our fishy friends – tamure snapper – with their pink scales and bright blue spots, āhuruhru goatfish – with their two feelers (goatees) rustling in the sand and paketi spotty – hiding amongst the shallow weed and rocks. These are just some of the many fish species that call our marine reserve home.

The Gemstone Bay Snorkel Trail

We are also lucky enough to have an abundance of other critters within Te Whanganui-o-Hei including kōura crayfish, kina urchin, anemones and lots of intertidal creatures that adapt with the rise and fall of the tides. Please look, don’t touch, everything is protected in a marine reserve.

At depths of 0-10m, Waimata Gemstone Bay is a great place to spend the day. Make sure to check the forecast before heading out and make sure you have the right gear – masks, snorkels, wetsuits and extra floaty things if you like!