[3] It includes part of the Kaikōura Canyon, a 1000 metre deep side branch of the Hikurangi Trough.

[3][2] In November 2016, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake caused submarine mudslides and sediment flows that devastated the deep-sea life in the canyon.

[6] In September 2017, a National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research expedition found species were recovering faster than expected.

[11] The depth of the canyon makes it a food basket for whale, dolphin and sea bird species.

[1] Orca regularly visit the area and humpback whales pass through during their northern winter migration.

[1] Encrusting and mobile invertebrates like molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms, anemones and sponges are common on the reefs.