Marine Reserve Rules in New Zealand: A Guide for Snorkellers

What is a marine reserve?

Marine reserves are New Zealand's highest level of marine protection. They're set up under the Marine Reserves Act 1971. There are 44 of them, from the Kermadec Islands in the far north to the Subantarctic Islands in the south. They're for everyone to enjoy: you're welcome to swim, snorkel, dive and kayak in them.

Because nothing can be taken, ecosystems in reserves are often healthier. DOC's report card for Goat Island says its ecosystems are healthier and in a more natural state than those outside its boundaries.

The rules

DOC sums them up simply. Inside a marine reserve:

• No fishing of any kind, from a boat or from the shore.
• No taking or damaging marine life, including shellfish and seaweed.
• No removing natural materials, such as rocks and shells.
• No feeding fish. It disturbs their natural behaviour.
• No polluting or littering.

It's also an offence to discharge a firearm into a reserve or to build any structure in it.

For snorkellers, it comes down to this: look, don't touch, and leave everything where you found it.

Boating rules

These rules matter to snorkellers too, because they protect you in the water:

• Boats must keep to 5 knots (about 9 km/h) within 200 m of the shore or of a boat flying a dive flag, and within 50 m of any other boat or swimmer.
• No discharge of waste, ballast or sewage inside a reserve.
• Anchor carefully, using the minimum chain needed, to avoid damaging the sea floor.

Penalties

Penalties under the Marine Reserves Act can include confiscation of equipment, vessels or vehicles, fines and imprisonment. DOC says the most serious breaches can lead to prosecution and jail.

In its December 2025 reminder, DOC reported 24 cases of marine reserve rules being broken over summer 2024–25. Two-thirds of reported offences over five years happened between October and March.

Check the boundaries

Boundaries aren't always obvious from the water. DOC says reserve locations are available online and in the MarineMate app, and there's signage at boat ramps and wharves. Many reserves also have physical boundary markers.

Stop marine pests

DOC asks visitors to watch for exotic caulerpa, an invasive seaweed. Check your gear and boat for seaweed before moving between sites. If you see something unusual, photograph it, note the location and report it to the Ministry for Primary Industries on 0800 80 99 66.

Report poaching

If you see someone taking anything from a reserve, report it as soon as possible:

• 0800 4 POACHER (0800 476 224)
• 0800 DOCHOT (0800 362 468)

Useful details include boat descriptions, what people were doing, and where and when you saw it. DOC treats all information in confidence.

Where to snorkel in a reserve

• Goat Island, New Zealand's first marine reserve, near Leigh
• Poor Knights Islands, off Tutukaka
• Gemstone Bay, on the Te Whanganui-o-Hei snorkel trail