Students' vision opens marine reserve

The country's newest marine reserve, in Whangarei Harbour, comes into formal existence tomorrow.

The 236ha reserve has been promoted and developed since the 1990s by successive years of senior students at Kamo High School.

Known as the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve, it consists of two sites and includes about 2.37 per cent of the total area of the harbour.

One is at Waikaraka, near Onerahi (210.5ha) and the second covers a 26ha area around Motukaroro (Passage) Island near Reotahi. The Waikaraka site is almost entirely in mangroves with tidal mud flats and a subtidal channel edge with access off Beach Rd, Onerahi, or from Whangarei Heads Rd.

A feature of the much smaller Motukaroro site is diverse reef fish and marine life produced by a combination of deeper water and swift currents. Access is off Beach Rd at Reotahi.

Reserve boundaries have been adjusted for local Maori to continue a traditional kai gathering area and to allow access for land-based recreational fishing.

Conservation Minister Chris Carter has approved the formation of a local marine reserve management advisory committee to allow community representatives to advise on management issues.

Kamo High School is holding a special function tomorrow to celebrate the opening and a public guided snorkel day is scheduled for October 29 at the Motukaroro site.