Horoirangi Marine Reserve
Located in the Nelson/Tasman region
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Introduction
Horoirangi Marine Reserve lies north of Nelson city along the eastern side of Tasman Bay/Te Tai-o-Aorere. The reserve is a great place for walking, exploring the intertidal zone, snorkelling, diving, kayaking and boating.View maps and boundaries of Horoirangi Marine Reserve.
Ngati Tama welcomes you:
Nau mai ’aere mai, e ngā manu’iri o ngā ’au e w’ā
Welcome to all people from all four winds
Mai i te ’au kāinga o tenei ro’e me kii ko Ngāti Tama o Wakapuaka
From us, the home people of Ngāti Tama of Wakapuaka.
Mai i rānō he ka’a te ’ononga i waenganui i te Iwi Māori me te ao tūturu.
For all time the link between Māori people and the natural world has been strong.
E w’akanui ana tātou i a Tangaroa me ngā tini rawa o te moana.
We respect Tangaroa and the multitude of his resources.
Engari kua moumoutia e tātou aua rawa, kia ā’ua ngaro ’aere ai.
But we have wasted these resources, and some are disappearing.
Me w’akarerekë i ērā tikanga, me ma’i ta’i tātou w’akaora ai i ngā tamariki a Tangaroa
Let’s change these ways, and work in unison to restore Tangaroa’s children
kia rite anō ki ngā rā o ō tātou tūpuna,
to what they were in the time of our ancestors,
mau tonu ai mō ngā w’akatupuranga e ’eke mai nei.
and retain them for the generations to come.
Find things to do and places to stay Horoirangi Marine Reserve
For bird watchers, variable oyster catchers and blue penguins nest along the rocky shoreline. Over winter, spotted shags roost on the rocky crags at Ataata Point.
The southern end of the marine reserve at Glenduan is a short, 12 km drive from Nelson. From here you can walk along the reserve, but watch for the incoming tide and take care over the boulders, as they can be unstable and slippery. Kayaks can also be launched and retrieved, with care, across Nelson Boulder Bank.
For larger boats, there are good launching facilities at Nelson and Mapua, before embarking on a 12 km boat trip north along the outer Boulder Bank. While out on the water, keep a wary eye on the weather and sea conditions; there is little shelter along this stretch of coast and stiff sea breezes regularly occur in summer.
At the northern end of the marine reserve, and well worth the 21 km drive, is Rotokura/Cable Bay. Although you cannot reach the reserve from here on foot, kayaks and small boats can be launched from Cable Bay beach for a pleasant trip across to Ataata Point and into the northern sector of the reserve.
Large yellow triangles onshore mark the northern and southern boundaries; offshore buoys mark the ends and the outermost corners of the reserve. Note these markers may not always be present due to operational requirements.
Remember all animals, plants, and the sea bed are totally protected.
- No fishing, netting, hand gathering, taking or killing of marine life
- No polluting, disturbance or damage of marine life or the sea bed
- No removal of any natural material from the marine reserve.
The bluffs overlooking Horoirangi Marine Reserve are more than a dramatic landscape, they are also the source of rocks for the rugged boulder reefs below. The reefs extend offshore up to 400 m and to a depth of around 20 m.
The boulders on the upper shore, regularly moved by the waves, are mostly devoid of life. Lower down the reefs are much more stable, forming a matrix of interlocking boulders interspersed with occasional patches of bedrock.
The reefs support a typical array of animals. Shellfish, anemones, sponges and sea squirts cling to the rocks; snails, starfish and crustaceans move secretively amongst the boulders, and various fish patrol above.
Ambush starfish are unusually common in Horoirangi, and their colours provide a sharp contrast to the subdued hues of the rocks and most of the other reef species.
Brown seaweeds form a dense forest between Mackay Bluff and the dramatic rocks at Ataata Point.
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
| Rotoiti / Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 521 1806 |
| Email: | nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
View Road St Arnaud |
| Postal Address: |
PO Box 55 St Arnaud 7053 |
| Full office details | |
| Whakatū / Nelson Visitor Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 546 9339 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
Millers Acre/Taha o te Awa 1/37 Halifax Street Nelson 7010 |
| Postal Address: |
Private Bag 5 Nelson 7042 |
| Full office details | |
