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Twenty kilometres or so offshore fromTutukaka, the Poor Knights, named by Capt. Cook
in 1769, are the jewel in the crown of the Whangarei District.
An 800m marine reserve now
surrounds all the islands and rocks of the group, and landing is not
permitted.
The sea floor at the base of
the islands was once a beach that was drowned when the last ice age melted and
slowly raised the water level some 70m up the rock face, creating as it rose a
series of caves and overhanging shelves. A warm current from the
north brings abundant plankton and supports subtropical fish, corals and other
marine life. These unique features draw divers from throughout NZ and
internationally to explore and enjoy this special place.
The larger northern
island is Tawhiti Rahi and its
southern partner is Aorangi. Both supported a considerable Maori population and in the early
1800s Aorangi's people bred and traded wild pigs from
the island with mainland Maori. A bitter dispute arose over one such deal,
ending in a massacre of the occupants of Aorangi. Since then the island has been tapu.
In 1981 the marine reserve
surrounding the islands was finally established, banning all commercial fishing
within a 800m zone surrounding all islands and projecting rocks in the
area. Limited recreational fishing is allowed within the zone.
However, within two areas inside this zone all fishing is
banned.
Outside these two zones
recreational fishers may take the following species by spearfishing or trolling,
snapper, trevally, shark, billfish, tuna, mackerel, kahawai, pink mao mao and
trevally is allowed outside the prohibited area. In general terms the
above fish are pelagic, moving freely about the sea.
Rock lobster, shellfish, sea eggs, corals and reef fish must not be
damaged or taken from anywhere within the marine reserve. All netting is
banned, as is the use of lights to lure fish. A visit
to
www.sportfishing.co.nz/poorknights.htm
and the
Department of Conservation's
website
will provide you with further
information.
Most charter boats that visit the Poor Knights operate out of Tutukaka , and information regarding services
offered is available from the Whangarei Visitors Bureau, "
Whangarei Online" and its online
directories, the yellow pages, or from specialist fishing and diving
shops. Visitors exploring the Poor Knights in their own vessels are urged
to update on the regulations by securing pamphlets from fishing tackle outlets
or by checking information boards at the Tutukaka Marina. Contact the
Whangarei office of the Department of Conservation if in doubt.
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