Rauhomaumau

Position: 35°37′.56S, 174°32’.483E

Located to the south of Tutukaka Harbour this bay (also known locally as Dolphin Bay) is an exposed open coast environment, bordered to the north by Rauhomaumau Island and Ngunguru Reef. The bay is shallow with extensive reef areas, making it very difficult to navigate in all but very small craft, such as kayaks. It is very exposed to southeast swells, so is often inaccessible, even from the shore. It is however very sheltered in conditions from the southwest to North.

Survery Site Description

Survey Length: 530m, Depth Range: Intertidal to 10m

There are extensive sub-tidal reef areas with good vertical complexity. Soft bottom composition is primarily course sand, shell and small pebbles. There is a large amount of broken rock fragments, presumably as a result of the strong wave action this bay is subjected to.

Surveys – Latest First

Date: 31-05-18 Time of Survey: 10:30

Tide: HT 08:20 Moon Phase: Waning 1 day (full moon 30-05)

Conditions:

Water Temp: 18c Visibility: 2-6m Sea State: calm, very slight east swell

Wind Direction/Strength: variable 5kn Cloud Cover: fine

Survey Team: Hamish, John, Glenn

Notes: Extensive areas of sea rimu – Caulerpa flexilis – particularly in the shallows close to shore. Obvious siltation in the shallows as the very slight swell stirred up the bottom, suspending the finer particles in the water column. Also more sedimentation near the island, where there was also signs of NIA. Large amount of broken ecklonia kelp on the bottom. Other impressions: rugged, broken, patchy. Other species sited: Paua (7 small), spotty, hiwihiwi, juvenile sweep, black angelfish (10+), leather jackets, piper, sandbagger’s wrasse, banded wrasse, pore (1), juvenile kahawai (1), goatfish, marble fish (1).

Results: