Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre

Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre Safe, fun, high-quality marine environmental education & recreation.
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MERC's marine scientists are at Tawharanui Regional Park today doing guided tidepool explorations from 1pm until 5pm. Lo...
15/08/2026

MERC's marine scientists are at Tawharanui Regional Park today doing guided tidepool explorations from 1pm until 5pm. Low tide is at 3pm, the weather is sunny with a slight wind. It is stunning! Come join us. Thank you for the support for these programmes Rodney Local Board

29/07/2026

What a stunning morning out on the water today! Our school group was enjoying the view of the Coromandel when some dolphins decided to swim by!

Found around the coasts of Aotearoa New Zealand, this species plays an important role in our marine ecosystem. Can you g...
25/07/2026

Found around the coasts of Aotearoa New Zealand, this species plays an important role in our marine ecosystem. Can you guess what it is? 👀

Was that really our 6th Matariki weekend camp? It's always a pleasure to make new connections and revive existing ones....
11/07/2026

Was that really our 6th Matariki weekend camp? It's always a pleasure to make new connections and revive existing ones. We learned about and acknowledged ngā whetū o Matariki with activities, waiata and Pō whakangahau.

As always, so much aroha for our collaborators Te Pā who continue to bless us with new learnings and their awesome tamariki.

Special shout out to Hibiscus And Bays Local Board and New World Long Bay for their considerable contribution this year!

07/07/2026

Microscopic marine plants called phytoplankton are responsible for producing more than half of the oxygen we breathe — highlighting just how essential the ocean is to life on Earth.
Understanding the ocean helps us protect it.

⭐️ Meet our Client Liaison and Grants Administrator, Milly! ⭐️Milly has been part of the MERC whānau for the past two ye...
07/07/2026

⭐️ Meet our Client Liaison and Grants Administrator, Milly! ⭐️

Milly has been part of the MERC whānau for the past two years and loves any opportunity to get outside and connect with te taiao. Her favourite MERC activities are exploring the rocky shore and anything that gets her out on the moana. As a keen rocky shore explorer, Milly's favourite creature is the wheke (octopus), and she has a keen eye for spotting them amongst the reefs at Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve. 🐙🦀🦑

What Milly loves most about working at MERC is seeing tamariki and rangatahi become excited about te ao moana (the ocean world), witnessing those moments of wonder that spark a lifelong passion and connection to the ocean. Through curiosity, exploration and salty fun, she hopes to inspire the next generation of tangata tiaki (guardians) and bring MERC's mission to life - Kia whakaongaonga Tangaroa i to whatumanawa - let the ocean excite your heartbeat. 🩵

🌊Bri's Creature Feature of the Week🌊Orca are the biggest species of dolphin on this planet. They are extremely intellige...
06/07/2026

🌊Bri's Creature Feature of the Week🌊

Orca are the biggest species of dolphin on this planet. They are extremely intelligent creatures, living like families in pods and speak different dialects from other pods. They have highly intelligent hunting techniques, making them an apex predator of the sea.

Fun facts:
Aotearoa Orca, are the only known killer whales to hunt rays.
Male Orca’s (Bull) can grow to almost 10m long, and their dorsal fins can grow up to two metres tall!
There are no records of Orca ever harming any human in the wild. They are curious creatures that are known to say a friendly hello to visitors of their home.

Common name: Orca / Killer Whale
Te Reo name: Maki
Scientific name: Orcinis Orca
Phylum: Chordata

30/06/2026

The MERC team are here to give you some quick fire fun facts about just a few of the amazing creatures we have had the pleasure of observing on the Rocky Shore!

Address

1045 Beach Road, Long Bay
Auckland
0630

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

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