What's special about the marine reserve Protecting Long Bay and
Okura's marine life The Long Bay - Okura Marine Reserve,
established in 1995, is Auckland's most accessible marine
reserve. Marine reserves are areas of sea and foreshore where
all marine life is totally protected and fish, shellfish,
seaweeds and other species can recover from over-fishing and
other threats. Protecting a range of New Zealand's coastal and
marine ecosystems The Long Bay - Okura Marine Reserve protects
an area of coastline typical of much of the Waitemata Harbour
and inner Hauraki Gulf. It is moderately sheltered and largely
formed of Waitemata sandstones and mudstones. The purpose of a
marine protected area network around the New Zealand coastline
is to safeguard representative examples of our different coastal
and marine habitats. Sandy beaches and rocky reefs are the main
habitats to be found in the Long Bay section of the marine
reserve. Waitemata rock formations are clearly visible, and the
intertidal zone on the rock platfor