Wellington’s Great Kina Count
Give 10 minutes of your dive and contribute valuable data!
Wellington’s Dive and Marine Community is working together to understand the kina population in the Wellington region.
Anyone can take part by taking photos and submitting the location, photos and other observations of our rocky reefs!
Certified scuba divers can contribute to the 10 minute kina counts. Read the method and tips for best results here.
The count in a nutshell: In your buddy pair pick one diver to do the counting. For 10 minutes, swim along a chosen depth zone and count all urchins within one arm span either side of you.
The water temperature in the Wellington region is too cold for Centro urchins – divers only count kina.
Freedivers, Snorkellers, Boaties and Kayakers with cameras…
You can submit your images of urchin barren and kelp forests and share your observations here:
Submit your images
Certified Scuba Divers…
Download the count method and submit your 10-min urchin count results here:
Submit your Urchin Count Results
Get invovled!
Certified scuba divers can join the kina count with one of the participating dive clubs or shops:
- Dive HQ Wellington: info@diveski.co.nz, 04 568 5028
- Dive Wellington: dive@divewellington.co.nz, 04 939 3483
- Island Bay Divers: tim@ibdivers.co.nz, 04 383 6778
- Ocean Hunter Wellington: teamwellington@oceanhunter.co.nz, 04 387 7473
- NZ Sea Adventures: nzsa@scubadiving.co.nz, 04 233 8238
- Project Baseline Wellington:
projectbaselinewellington@gmail.com, 0210549865 - Clubs & Groups: Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wāhine Hunters, Wellington Underwater Club, Lazy Seals Freediving Club
For more information get in touch with Nicole on 0210549865.
Volunteer divers have observed significant changes at the point between Kau Bay and Mahanga Bay since 2016. You can read more about kina and monitoring here.
Participants counting kina at the northern tip of Wellington’s Miramar Peninsula in 2022. The data supported the controlled kina removal project led by Taranaki Whānui.
Wellington's Great Kina Count at the Miramar Peninsula in 2022
