Experiencing Marine Reserves

(EMR) is a national programme of experiential learning about marine conservation. Our EMR – Te Kura Moana programme empowers schools and communities by providing hands-on experience in the ocean.

Since 2001, EMR has taken 73,180 people into NZ’s marine reserves/rahui and over 27,291 people have been engaged in EMR organised marine conservation events. A total of 147,905 people have snorkelled with EMR. The total number of Kiwis engaged in EMR has now reached 207,494 .

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Delivered by an EMR coordinator the programme is designed to set the kids abuzz before progressing to developing their snorkelling skills in a pool then heading to the real marine environment. We increase awareness and encourage action and support for marine conservation and kaitiakitanga.

The EMR brand is unique; we have an active focus on community engagement and marine conservation. We are committed to delivering safe snorkel excursions and we are adventure activity safety audit certified (AAO 534). The national expansion of EMR is based on a non-profit franchise concept.

Our full EMR programme involves a succession of experiences promoting kaitiakitanga from investigating marine biodiversity and the local marine environment before venturing to a marine protected area. After this experience, students are able to compare unprotected and protected areas and are encouraged to put their knowledge into action within the community!

We create awesome real life marine experiences, not just for kids but adults too. Engagement of adults as supervisors is a natural by-product and in-water experiences and activities often prove as powerful to the adults involved as the students, these shape caring attitudes and emotional connections. We have a range of funded programmes and ‘casual’ user pays opportunities, these are our Te Kura Moana snorkel experiences. EMR reinforces simple concepts such as the uniqueness of our marine biodiversity and provides an active focus on conservation of these environments through education and action.

Latest News

  • 2024 Winter Repair Café – Records Broken

    2024 Winter Repair Café – Records Broken

    We wondered, why do skilled locals volunteer their Saturday mornings to diagnose faults and mend household items? Repair Cafes are a worldwide movement, gaining in popularity each year as people try to reduce waste being sent to landfill and repair damaged household items.


  • Preserves Workshop

    Preserves Workshop

    We are always looking for ways in which we can bring people together, with a common interest, to learn new skills, and how we can utilise the resources we have, as in knowledge and in this case feijoas.


  • Wash Against Waste

    Wash Against Waste

    Battery and blister pack collections are growing steadily each month as more of our community become aware of the service at the library. Be sure to tell your friends and family…


  • That’s just peachy!

    That’s just peachy!

    What do you do when you have masses of ripe peaches?  Put the word out to see who wants some!  A Heritage peach tree in Mangere Bridge had a bumper crop this year so the tree owner asked who wanted some.


  • 2024 Volunteer Celebration and Thank You

    2024 Volunteer Celebration and Thank You

    Over 60 locals gathered recently to celebrate the end of another year of working together to make Mangere Bridge a caring, connected, wastewise community.  


  • Got Any Blisters? I mean Blister Packs…

    Got Any Blisters? I mean Blister Packs…

    Battery and blister pack collections are growing steadily each month as more of our community become aware of the service at the library. Be sure to tell your friends and family…


  • Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week Celebration

    Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week Celebration

    Recently Mangere Bridge Library held a special event to celebrate the first Papua New Guinea (PNG) Pidgin Language week.  PNG is the most linguistically diverse country in the world and Pidgin is a commonly used dialect.    


  • We Love Libraries! 

    We Love Libraries! 

    These days, libraries are vibrant places that are the centre of communities. In addition to books and magazines, they offer activities to suit every age group, from babies and preschoolers’ music sessions to school holiday programmes to computer assistance for older adults…


  • It’s a Stitch-Up!

    It’s a Stitch-Up!

    The Mangere Bridge Library Knitting Group was formed 12 months ago and has grown since to include a variety of handwork, such as crochet, cross stitch, and felting. It’s more accurately known as the ‘Craft Group’…


  • Cleaning Our Foreshore

    Cleaning Our Foreshore

    Socks, shirts, bottles, cans, food wrappers, pizza boxes and, surprisingly, lots of lollipop sticks. Caring locals getting stuck in to clean up our foreshore…


  • Our 8th Repair Café 

    Our 8th Repair Café 

    Repairs, lambs, yummy treats and community spirit abounded at our 8th Repair Café…