Facts
"High Peaks Rocks" (Pinnacles) and in
the distance "Sugarloaf Rock" are a
islands within the Poor Knights Islands
Marine Reserve
The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve located 24 km off the northeastern coastline of New Zealand covers an area of approximately 1890 ha, encompassing the waters and seabed within 800 m of the Poor Knights Islands (Tawhiti Rahi Island and Aorangi Island) and associated islets.
The reserve also includes the waters and seabed within 800 m of the High Peak Rocks (Pinnacles or Poor Knights Rocks) and Sugarloaf Rock that lie approximately 8 km to the south of the Poor Knights Islands.
The region was designated a marine reserve on 18 February 1981.
At that time commercial fishing was prohibited within the reserve but restricted recreational fishing was permitted, pursuant to section 3(3) of the Marine Reserves Act, using drift-line, trolling, or spear guns, of certain species of fish1 in most areas, with the exception of two 'no-take' areas around Nursery Cove Reef/Bartle's Bay/Maroro Bay and Frasers Bay/ South Harbour.
In October 1998 the provisions that permitted restricted recreational fishing at the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve expired and the reserve became a fully protected marine reserve.
The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve has a unique assemblage of marine flora and fauna owing to a number of factors including:
- the East Auckland current that originates in the Coral Sea (i.e., as the East Australian Current) and transports subtropical larvae to the reserve,
- the steep, rocky, subtidal topography of the islands,
- oceanic salinity levels, and
- high water clarity.
The combination of these environmental factors creates a unique environment that supports an unusual biological community at the Poor Knights Islands that has a strong subtropical component.
Find out more about underwater Poor Knights Islands