The Friends of Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve Trust
Te Whanganui-A-Hei became a marine reserve in 1992 and is New Zealand’s sixth marine reserve, the first for the Coromandel.
With no recreational or commercial fishing allowed inside the reserve, marine plants and animals are free to return to their natural balance. Marine reserves have been hugely successful in restoring marine ecosystems, including fish stocks, in other parts of New Zealand.
The reserve covers nine square kilometres and is administered by the Department of Conservation in partnership with the Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve Committee.
click on map to zoom in
The Friends of Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve Trust was established in 2010, primarily to raise funds for the marine reserve. The Trust receives funds through grants and donations.
Members of the Trust are made up of two representatives appointed by Ngati Hei, one from the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve Committee and three representatives from the community.
Boardwalk looking down on Cathedral Cove
One of the main reasons for setting up the Trust was so that funds could be raised to develop the educational 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 programme Experiencing Marine Reserves free to local area schools. The focus of the EMR programme (www.emr.org.nz) is to provide quality education opportunities, increasing awareness, and encouraging action and support for marine conservation in New Zealand.
The Trust will also raise funds for other projects within the marine reserve and Cathedral Cove.
If you would like to help out, donations can be made to The Friends of Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve Trust.
A receipt will be issued.
Mail cheques to: The Friends of Te Whanganui-A-Hei
Marine Reserve Trust
17 Emmerdale Drive
Hahei, RD 1, Whitianga 3591
Direct Credit to: The Friends of
Te Whanganui-A-Hei
Marine Reserve Trust
Westpac – 03 1578 0095821 00
The Gemstone Bay Snorkel Trail
Hahei is known for Cathedral Cove but did you know we also have one the of few Marine Reserves in New Zealand – Te Whanganui a Hei Marine Reserve. Gemstone Bay is along the track to Cathedral Cove and a great place to snorkel.
Gemstone Bay – Habitat
Located in water 0-5 m deep
A boulder beach, with representative examples shallow sand flats, rock flats and mixed weed zone below the low water mark.
The boulders, over-hang and guts along the snorkel trail provide habitat for sponges, ascidians, bryozoans and fish (including crayfish) which are more characteristic of deeper communities elsewhere in the reserve.
Gemstone Bay Snorkel Trail - What is it?
Four Buoys with interpretation panels attached.
The interpretation panels identify habitat and commonly seen creatures.
They include a photo/picture, with a short message attached.
The Snorkel trail provides a point of difference to get people into the water so they are able to experience the amazing marine life in the Te Whanganui a Hei Marine Reserve.
The buoys have handles on them which snorkelers are able to hold on to which can help novice snorkelers, tourist and children feel more comfortable in the water. The information panels on the buoys give information about the marine environment.
Some parts of the bay have a soft sandy floor. Look for goatfish, trevally and snapper in these areas. On the shallow rocky areas you’ll often see paketi (spotties) and maybe some parore and sweep.
Other parts of the bay are dry at low tide and covered by water at high tide. The creatures that live in these ‘intertidal’ zones have to be very adaptable.
You will see two different types of habitat.
The shallower areas support a mixture of seaweeds (like flapjack and paddleweed ) and a wide variety of fish such as banded wrasse, red moki, snapper or blue cod.
(see photo below.)
Blue Cod
In the deeper water there are areas of bare rock known as ‘kina barrens’ and ‘anemone zones’.
On the outer edges of the bay and beyond an Ecklonia (kelp) forest flourishes in water 6- 10 m deep. In the rocky areas you will also find ‘micro-habitats’ (a room with a room); overhands, crack and crevices that host crayfish and unusual filter feeding animals and sponges that normally occur only in deeper water.
Snapper and crayfish at Marine Reserve
All marine life is protected. Do not collect specimens.
Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawbaiwww.tewhanganui-a-hei.org.nz
Te Whanganui-A-Hei became a marine reserve in 1992 and is New Zealand’s sixth marine reserve, the first for the Coromandel. 
