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Marineland, 1966-1981 (Place)
SummarySEE ALSO AUTHORITY: Marineland, 1966-1981 (Organisation)
Also known as Marineland Ltd Seaquarium
Marineland was once a significant attraction on Moturiki Island, which lies off Mount Maunganui's main beach. In 1964, a 25-year lease was given to Bay City Enterprises to transform the island's old quarry site into a large outdoor aquarium. By 1966, it had been converted into a spacious pool and stocked with dolphins and other marine creatures captured locally.
Initially, the aquarium was popular among both locals and tourists. However, it had higher than anticipated loss of marine life, leading to efforts to conceal this from the public. The local population was not large enough to sustain the facility year-round, and even the influx of summer holidaymakers couldn't make up the needed visitor numbers. Developers were motivated to improve access to the site.
Additionally, the limited variety of exhibits failed to encourage repeat visits. By 1981, facing declining patronage and financial challenges, Marineland closed and was eventually sold. Efforts were made to repurpose the site to appeal to a wider audience, leading to the creation of Leisure Island with swimming pools and water slides. Today, Moturiki Island is a protected reserve, home to wildlife including a colony of little blue penguins, and serves as a reminder of the area's rich and varied history.
Also known as Marineland Ltd Seaquarium
Marineland was once a significant attraction on Moturiki Island, which lies off Mount Maunganui's main beach. In 1964, a 25-year lease was given to Bay City Enterprises to transform the island's old quarry site into a large outdoor aquarium. By 1966, it had been converted into a spacious pool and stocked with dolphins and other marine creatures captured locally.
Initially, the aquarium was popular among both locals and tourists. However, it had higher than anticipated loss of marine life, leading to efforts to conceal this from the public. The local population was not large enough to sustain the facility year-round, and even the influx of summer holidaymakers couldn't make up the needed visitor numbers. Developers were motivated to improve access to the site.
- The developer decided Marineland needed a bridge or causeway across the beach from Marine Parade, but unfortunately, the Council had earlier stated that no obstruction across the beach would be permitted, and the terms of the lease expressly prohibited such action. The developer persisted with his arguments, and this led to disputes with the Council which had not been reconciled when over one weekend a large rock causeway suddenly appeared, allegedly under some verbal authority which it was claimed had been given by the Town Clerk. Naturally, this led to even more acrimonious exchanges which achieved little and were to be followed inevitably by the promise of court action to redress this blatant breach of lease conditions.
However, before this occurred, in April 1968 a cyclone appeared over the Northern Tasman Sea and quickly descended on the coast of New Zealand. In about 12 hours of gale-force winds and high seas, the ocean beach was devastated, and when it was over the causeway had disappeared as if it had never been. This was the storm which continued south and sank the Inter-Island Ferry Wahine in Wellington Harbour.
A History of Mount Maunganui by Bruce Cunningham and Ken Musgrave (1989), page 85
Additionally, the limited variety of exhibits failed to encourage repeat visits. By 1981, facing declining patronage and financial challenges, Marineland closed and was eventually sold. Efforts were made to repurpose the site to appeal to a wider audience, leading to the creation of Leisure Island with swimming pools and water slides. Today, Moturiki Island is a protected reserve, home to wildlife including a colony of little blue penguins, and serves as a reminder of the area's rich and varied history.
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Tauranga City Libraries Staff - Harley Couper, Marineland, 1966-1981 (Place). Pae Korokī, accessed 22/07/2026, https://paekoroki.tauranga.govt.nz/nodes/view/109053
