Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, Marine reserve off the northeastern coast of North Island, New Zealand.

The Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve covers 1,890 ha (4,700 acres) around the Poor Knights Islands and the adjacent rock stacks Sugarloaf Rock and High Peak Rocks, off the North Island. It was established in 1981 and is administered by the Department of Conservation. The islands' landforms include natural arches and caves, and dive trips leave regularly from Tutukaka.

Maori people inhabited these islands until tribal conflicts in the 1820s forced them to leave and settle elsewhere. Since then the waters have been protected for marine life to thrive.

The islands held deep meaning for Maori people who lived here and gathered food from the waters and land. Today you can see traces of ancient storage structures and fortifications that mark their past presence.

You can only reach this reserve by boat from the nearby coastal town, and guided diving and snorkeling tours run during the warmer months. Check conditions before you go and book with experienced guides, since the sea can be rough and unpredictable.

The reserve's waters were studied by Wade Doak, a New Zealand marine expert and advocate for marine reserves. A study of snapper at the Poor Knights found that after full protection in October 1998, large snapper over 270 mm became 7.4 times more numerous than in the first pre-reserve survey, and total snapper biomass rose by 818%.