Shhh Listen closely. Can you hear the whispers of the tide? We stand before Te Matuku Marine Reserve a haven of biodiversity on Waiheke Island.
Established in 2005 this 613-hectare reserve is a treasure. It’s a place where land and sea meet in a rare and beautiful embrace. Te Matuku Bay itself is historically significant. In pre-European times Maori gathered food here. Thick shell middens remain as evidence of this rich past. Ngati Paoa are the tangata whenua the traditional guardians of this land. Other iwi also hold ancestral ties to this spiritually important area.
Te Matuku Bay holds a unique ecosystem. Salt marshes mangroves and extensive intertidal flats thrive here. At low tide wading birds flock to the mudflats. They feast on sea snails cockles crabs and worms. The mud is soft though. You can sink up to your waist. So be careful. As the tide rises juvenile flounder and mullet arrive. They feed on the abundant invertebrates. The reserve’s name comes from the now-rare Australasian bittern matuku-horepo. You might even spot one in the nearby wetland.
Another remarkable feature is the spiny tubeworm colonies. These are dotted across the intertidal flats. They were once abundant in the Waitemata Harbour. Now they are rare there. The deepest part of the reserve is off Otakawhe Bay. Strong tidal currents expose patches of shells. Sponges anemones and soft corals colonize these areas. Juvenile snapper and trevally are abundant around the reefs. Rig and flatfish are common in Te Matuku Bay itself.
Remember Te Matuku Marine Reserve is a protected area. No fishing or collecting seafood is allowed. Please respect this fragile ecosystem. Avoid disturbing the tubeworm colonies oyster beds and nesting shorebirds like the endangered New Zealand dotterel. Navigation is not restricted but boaties must be careful. Avoid dragging anchors which can damage the sea floor. Do not allow your boat to rest on the tidal flats at low tide.
Te Matuku Marine Reserve offers a glimpse into a thriving underwater world. It’s a place of both historical importance and ecological significance. It’s a place that needs our respect and protection for generations to come. So enjoy your visit. But leave only footprints.