Kelly Tarlton's Marine Wildlife Trust

12/05/2026

A little snippet of the Seahorse Survey 🤿🤿🤿

05/05/2026

Since the beginning of late 2025, one of our project coordinators, Dr Hayley Nessia, has been working on a new Kelly Tarlton’s Marine Wildlife Trust-led scientific survey of the Big-bellied Seahorse / Hippocampus abdominalis within the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park – Tīkapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-Toi.
Here are some cool facts on this taonga species...
The Big-bellied Seahorse / Manaia is Aotearoa / New Zealand’s only native seahorse and the largest species globally. It inhabits sheltered coastal environments, including bays and estuaries, where it is typically associated with structured habitats such as macroalgal forests and artificial substrates.
In the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana, anecdotal evidence suggests localised declines and potential extirpations; however, there are currently no data on population trends, and the most recent IUCN assessment (2016) lists the species as ‘Least Concern’. Manaia are also a taonga species, holding cultural significance for tangata whenua.
This project aims to assess the current status of manaia populations by repeating baseline surveys conducted 25 years ago at Ti Point, Whangateau Harbour and Schoolhouse Bay, Kawau Island.
Given their close association with Carpophyllum forests, improving habitat availability for manaia may have broader benefits for coastal ecosystem health. Investigation into seahorse conservation is therefore vital to understanding population trends and informing effective management of coastal ecosystems.
Stay tuned for more Seahorse Survey updates as this mahi is underway🤿🤿🤿🤿

07/04/2026

update 🐢🐢🐢

Today, we released a new mini-documentary called Honu o Te Hiku o Te Ika – Turtles of the Far North.

This film was filmed throughout 2025, which followed four Green Sea Turtles as they were prepped with Satellite Tags for their release back in the Far North of Aotearoa. One of the Green Sea Turtles that were in our care was found stranded at Rangiputa Beach, one was found at East Beach, one at Taupō Bay and the other was found stranded on the West Coast.

The Satellite tagging program was commissioned by the Department of Conservation to study where and what Green Sea Turtles get up in the moana of New Zealand. A study that is ongoing to this day.

You can find the full film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0dcA5zW0Ng

Here's 20 seconds of the film, enjoy!

13/03/2026

Some awesome facts on why Red Moki should be for 2026 🐠🐠🐠🐠

11/03/2026

The Te Reo name of Red Moki is Nanua 🐠
Their presence on a reef could be interpreted as a sign of a healthy, stable ecosystem. Teachings about longevity and patience, with Red Moki used as examples of species that endure across generations.
This is why Red Moki / Nanua is one of the keystone species for most reef habitats in the Moana that surround Aotearoa.
Remember, voting closes on the 15th of March, you can vote for your three favourite fish in the link below...
https://www.mountainstosea.org.nz/fish-of-the-year
P.S. Vote for Nanua 🐠🐠🐠

03/03/2026

Red Moki have tiny home ranges and often stay on the same reef for decades 🪸🪸🪸
They prefer rocky reefs, surge channels, and kelp forests, especially around Te Ika ā Maui / North Island and northern South Island / Te Wai Pounamu.
They’re mostly nocturnal feeders, grazing on small crustaceans, worms, and molluscs. One of the benthic invertebrates they prey on is small sea urchins/kina, which is one of the ways of managing the urchin Population and preventing kina barrens.
This gives them the title of Reef Cleaners / Regulators.
During the day, they often hover motionless, which divers love because they’re easy to approach☺
Remember, voting closes on the 15th of March, you can vote for your three favourite fish in the link below...
https://www.mountainstosea.org.nz/fish-of-the-year
P.S. Vote for Nanua 🐠🐠🐠🐠

03/03/2026

01/03/2026

Starting Sea Week 2026 with some cool reasons why you should vote for Red Moki for Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust Fish of the Year 🐠🐠🐠.

25/02/2026

Red Moki / Nanua are instantly recognisable by their bold vertical stripes, almost like a reef zebra with attitude 🦓
Did you know they can live for up to 60 years, making them among Aotearoa’s longest‑lived reef fish 👀
They grow slowly and mature late, which makes them vulnerable to overfishing and habitat loss. This is why in the Spearfishing Community, there is a strong voluntary ban on taking Red Moki for those reasons🤿
Juveniles look completely different from adults — mottled, camouflaged, and often hiding among kelp 🪸🌿
As a reminder, voting starts on the 28th of February, with the last day being the 15th of March.
You can find out more information here...
https://www.mountainstosea.org.nz/fish-of-the-year
P.S. Vote for Nanua 🐠🐠🐠

23/02/2026

Team Announcement 🎉🎉🎉
We O-fish-ally welcome Shannon Hull to the Ocean Youth Aotearoa team as one of the Project Coordinator Assistants for the Ocean Youth Aotearoa Programs.
Here is what she has to say...
“Ever since I was a young girl in primary school have cared for the ocean. It is such a precious resource that is essential for all life on earth and is home to some of the most incredible creatures we know, and don’t yet know!
There is so much to discover and we will never stop learning from the ocean, which is why it is so important to protect it for future generations.
I am really excited to work with like-minded young adults who share my enthusiasm to spread awareness and ensure we all play our part in ocean sustainability” 🌊🌊🌊🌊