Image: Anna Barnett | Creative Commons
Yellow sponge at Horoirangi Marine Reserve.
Horoirangi Marine Reserve

Located in the Nelson/Tasman region

Horoirangi Marine Reserve lies north of Nelson city along the eastern side of Tasman Bay/Te Tai-o-Aorere. The reserve offers something for everyone. From walking and exploring the intertidal zone, to snorkelling, diving, kayaking and boating.

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.

Cable Bay Walkway

There are expansive views over Horoirangi and out across Tasman Bay/Te Tai-o-Aorere from Cable Bay Walkway.
 

Markers

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.

See Maps and boundaries page for more information.

Southern end

The southern end of the marine reserve at Glenduan is a short, 12 km, drive from Nelson where visitors can walk along the reserve. Be aware of incoming tides, falling rocks, and take care when crossing boulders as they can be unstable and slippery.

Northern end

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.

Boats

For larger boats, there are launching facilities at Nelson and Mapua. While out on the water, keep an eye on the weather and sea conditions. There is little shelter along this stretch of coast and stiff sea breezes regularly occur in summer.

Kayaks can be launched and retrieved at Glenduan.

When exploring the along the coast, watch out for falling rocks along the cliffs and take extra care walking on the boulders as they can be slippery.

Fishing is not permitted within the reserve. If you see people taking anything from the reserve, report the activity to 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468). Also report pollution, oil spills, navigation hazards and dangerous boating to Greater Wellington Regional Council's Environmental Protection Hotline (0800 496 734).

If you are exploring the reserve by boat, be aware of weather and sea conditions; there is little shelter along this stretch of coast and stiff sea breezes regularly occur in summer. Learn more about how to stay and safe and enjoy the water

Marine mammals may be present within the reserve. Find out more about sharing our coasts with marine mammals.

The bluffs overlooking the Horoirangi Marine Reserve may be breathtaking, but the real attraction lies just below the surface. Rugged boulder reefs that are thriving with life extend 400 m off shore and to a depth of around 20 m. 

The reef supports a diverse range of shellfish, anemones, sponges and sea squirts that cling to the rocks while snails, starfish and crustaceans sneak amongst the boulders. 

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.

Patches of brown seaweeds and sponges form an underwater forest between Mackay Bluff and the dramatic rocks at Ataata Point.

No space in this ecosystem is wasted, even the soft sediment is abundant with horse mussel beds that filter water and provide habitat for other species.

Top of the South Marine Biosecurity Partnership

DOC works closely with partners through the Top of the South Marine Biosecurity Partnership to manage the threat of marine pests.

Top of the South Marine Biosecurity Partnership

Seen something unusual? Report it

Invasive marine pests are a threat to Nelson’s coastal environment and the aquaculture industry across the top of the South Island. The invasive species can fall into two categories: fouling species (such as the clubbed tunicate Styela clava and Mediterranean fanworm Sabella spallanzanii) and exotic diseases (such as Bonamia ostrae) that can infect fish or shellfish.

MPI pest and diseases hotline

Call the Ministry for Primary Industries' Pest and Diseases hotline on 0800 80 99 66. If possible, please take photos and record the location. The location could be the name of a vessel and where it was moored, or the physical location if it was found on the sea floor or structures.

Take a photo and report it using the Find-A-Pest app

The Find-A-Pest app enables you to report potential pest species, including marine, plant, animal and fungal species.

If you come across something out of the ordinary, simply upload a picture to the app and a Find-A-Pest specialist or the iNaturalist community will help identify it. If your observation is considered a potential biosecurity threat, this will be forwarded to Biosecurity New Zealand to contact you if necessary.

If taking a photo of a vessel, be sure to capture the name and its location for tracing purposes.