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Poor Knights Islands looking south

Rules and regulations

Navigation and mooring is permitted within the Poor Knights Marine Reserve. While landing on the Islands is prohibited, the marine reserve around them is yours to enjoy, provided you observe the rules and follow environmental care code. In the interests of preserving the environment and retrieving your anchor, please use the minimum of chain necessary.

Visitors to the marine reserve are welcome and activities like boating, snorkelling, scuba diving and canoeing are encouraged.

However a number of other activities are prohibited to protect the marine life of the area.

• Fishing of any kind is an offence.
• The taking or disturbing of any marine life, including shellfish, seaweed and sea urchin is also an offence.
• It is an offence to take any part of the seafloor, including rocks and shells, from the reserve, or to erect any structure.
• Do not feed the fish. This disturbs their natural behaviour and is an offence.
• It is an offence for boats or jet skis to exceed five knots within 200m of the land.
• Please take your rubbish away with you. Littering and pollution are offences.

If you observe any offences, record the details and phone 0800 DOCHOT (0800 362 468).  

Commercial fishing

Commercial fishing is prohibited in the marine reserve and MAF regulations also state:

1. No commercial fishing except long lining is permitted within three nautical miles of the islands (5,559 metres), and
2. No commercial fishing (all methods) is permitted within one nautical mile (1853 metres) of the islands.

Nature reserve rules

Landing on any of the islands, stacks or rocks of the Poor Knights Islands, including the Sugarloaf and High Peaks (Pinnacles) to the south, is prohibited without a permit from the Department of Conservation. Boats must not be tied to any part of the shoreline.

These rules are to protect the Islands from fire and the accidental introduction of pests like rats or cats and invasive weeds. Any one of these could result in an ecological catastrophe for the islands and the species that survive on them.

Vessel ban

Vessels over 45 metres long are banned from travelling through an area around the Poor Knights Islands.
In 2004 the Maritime Safety Authority established a protected area extending 9 kilometres (5 nautical miles) from land between Bream Head and Cape Brett north of Whangarei.

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