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Marine & coastal

Auckland Islands / Motu Maha Marine Reserve

Southland

New Zealand sea lion mother and pup, Enderby Island. Photo copyright: Andrew Maloney (DOC USE ONLY).

New Zealand sea lion mother & pup, Auckland Islands

Map of New Zealand showing the location of the southland region.

The Auckland Islands/Motu Maha Marine Reserve covers an area of about 484,000 ha in the Southern Ocean. It stretches for 12 nautical miles around the subantarctic Auckland Islands and not only protects relatively shallow inshore areas up to 100 m deep but also deep ocean environments down to 3,000 m deep.

The reserve covers the breeding grounds of the Southern right whale, NZ sea lion and yellow-eyed penguin.

Unusually, the reserve is also a marine mammal sanctuary.

Highlights:

Tikanga Maori

Tikanga are the customs and traditions that have been handed down through the passages of time.

Sea lions video

Watch a video about New Zealand sea lion, which was hunted to almost extinction and is now the world's most endangered sea lion.

New Zealand's subantarctic islands

New Zealand's subantarctic islands have World Herigage status. They are among the world's least modified environments and are home to diverse and abudant animals and plants.

Find out more

Publications

Video clip about Auckland Islands/Motu Maha from Protecting our seas DVD

Review of the Marine Reserves Act 1971

Maps

Maps of Marine Reserves and Marine Mammal Sanctuaries

Learn more

Auckland Islands conservation

Auckland Island marine mammal sanctuary

Visiting the Auckland Islands

Contacts

Further information on this marine reserve is available from:

Southern Islands Area Office
Phone:	+64 3 211 2400
Fax:	+64 3 214 4486
Email:	invercargill@doc.govt.nz
Address:	Level 7 CUE on Don 33 Don Street Invercargill 9810
Postal Address:	PO Box 743 Invercargill 9840