There is a lot of information available about marine reserves and plenty of student activities.

The study of marine reserves is easily linked with the curriculum. Study and activities can be linked with Social Studies (all strands), Science ('Making Sense of the Living World'), English, Maths and Art.

Where to find comprehensive information

• This website - Marine Reserves Fact Sheet

• Forest and Bird website - Marine Reserves Fact Sheet

• Forest and Bird magazine - check your school library for copies or look for articles on www.forestandbird.org.nz 

• Get a copy of the Marine Reserve Education and Action Kit from the University of Auckland marine laboratory at Leigh, phone (09) 422 6111.

• Another useful reference : "Marine Reserves - a guide for prospective applicants", is available from the Department of Conservation, phone (09) 307 9279.

• Department of Conservation Website - Marine Reserves (with information on individual reserves).

• 'Guidelines for Environment Education in New Zealand Schools' contains a guide to studying marine reserves, page 70. Your school should have a copy, or contact the Ministry of Education for a copy.

• New Zealand Marine Studies Centre - Website

• Kamo High School Students - creating marine reserves

Places to visit

• Marine reserves! Contact your local DOC office or Regional Council to get information about your area.

• Leigh Marine Laboratory -  Contact a.cozens@auckland.ac.nz to arrange group or school education tours. Box 349, Warkworth, Phone 09-422 6111, Fax 0- 422 6113.

• New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, Dunedin  - Website

• Island Bay Marine Lab, Wellington - Website

Study marine reserves
(The answers to the questions below can all be answered from information on this website and the Forest and Bird website.)

What is a marine reserve?
Where are New Zealand's marine reserves?
What's it like at a marine reserve?
Why are marine reserves important?
Who is responsible for caring for marine reserves?
Can you help to create a marine reserve? How?
Why do we need more marine reserves?
Who is affected by marine reserves? How?
Who wants more marine reserves? Why?
Who might not be in favour of more marine reserves? Why?

Some activities related to studying marine reserves

• Mapping (Social Studies)
  - Draw a map of New Zealand and mark on the marine reserves.

• Statistics and Figures (Maths)
  - Draw a pie chart showing the percentage of each marine reserve (you will discover that the Kermadec Islands reserve takes most of the pie!).
  - Compare the sizes of New Zealand's marine reserves to that of our National Parks (National Park information on this website). What do you find when comparing the figures? Do you think we need more reserves to care for the marine environment?

• Star diagrams (Social Studies)
  Options for the centre of your star diagram:
  "What is it like in a marine reserve?"
  "Reason for marine reserves"

• Poster or banner (Art activity)
  Draw a poster (individual activity) or a banner (class activity) showing what it's like within a marine reserve.

• Letter writing (Social Studies/English)
  Students can write to the Prime Minister (Helen Clark), Minister of Fisheries (Pete Hodgson) or Minister of Conservation (Sandra Lee).
  Address for all: Parliament Buildings, Wellington (no stamp required).
  Letters to outline why the children like marine reserves, why it is important to care for them and why they would like more to be created.