EMR snorkelers, photo by Roger Grace

We have assembled a collection of marine reserve applications and proposals from the past. There are thirty publications in this archive that can be downloaded for your study and use. We suggest there is a wealth of information preserved in these documents, representing a large body of work from community groups NGO's and the Department of Conservation. 

We may in the near future change 'the way' we create marine reserves with more emphasis on marine protection forums and the processes best suited to these forums, but the need to gather information, do good design work, advocate for conservation and effectively engage our communities will remain. In each of these crucial areas, we can learn from our past mistakes and achievements.

Go to the Marine Reserve Application and Proposal Archive.

Roger Grace photographing a giant salp at the Poor Knights Islands Marine ReserveA list of scientific publications about marine ecological studies focused on marine reserves. This is a representative selection of the existing literature on this topic.

In addition to this collection, there are three further archives in this Libray which cover  Habitat Mapping, Marine Reserve Design and the works of Dr Bill Ballantine.

You can download individual papers or select several to download in a Zip folder  

Go to the Marine Reserve Science Document Archive

South Island West Coast Marine Reserves

How we design both marine reserves and networks of marine reserves is fundamentally important to communities and to their ecological, biodiversity and management outcomes. The design is key when considering the social impacts on existing users. Understanding how design can maximise benefits is a growing focus of research worldwide. There is a large body of scientific work associated with this key task. 

Go to the    Social Science & Community Engagement Archive

We have created an archive of resources. There is a listing of research (46) papers and documents with brief descriptions to guide your reading and study. All these resources are selected because they add something to understanding how to work with communities on marine conservation and / or how to create an effective process.

In New Zealand and internationally, time and time again, it has been shown that how people engage with a marine conservation campaign or planning process has a significant bearing on how successful it is. Social science in its many forms provides the tools to get this right.

These resources are coded in our download list in the following categories:

These people make the rulesGo to our Legislation and Policy Archive

We have prepared for you an achive for download of (24) Policy, Legislation and supporting documents. 

Marine reserves in New Zealand are created and managed under the Marine Reserves Act 1971.

Toheroa harvest, shellfish were once a very big part of traditional life, photo, Turnbill LibGo to the Traditional Management Archive

How we manage our coastal waters and how we restore and conserve our fish stocks is a very big challenge for New Zealand. There is no part that can be undertaken without consideration and respect for our Polynesian history. Currently a great emphasis is being placed on cultural learning and restoration of tikanga of coastal hapu and the practice of Kaitiakitanga. We are undoubtedly as a nation going through a process of understanding and appreciating the Treaty of Waitangi obligations and opportunities.

Bill Ballantine receiving one of many conservation awards“I have ideas that I would like to see change the world.” 

Go to our Ballantine Archive

We have introduced Dr Bill Ballantine's work to you on our page about benefits of marine reserves. We repeat below links to his website. We have also assembled our own collection of Bill's works on marine reserves which include a few additional articles not present on his web site. All or some of the files can be conveniently downloaded for your study.

Informative filmed resources such as documentaries, interviews, webinars and short films relating to marine protection and conservation.