[3] The rocks became culturally significant to Ngāti Awa and other iwi descending from the Mātaatua waka, as the departure place for the spirits of all their people.

[3] The clear water and warm east Auckland current from subtropical regions north of New Zealand supports a range of diversity, including the rare firebrick starfish, diadema urchin, Spanish lobster and packhorse crayfish.

[1][3] The Department of Conservation advises only visiting the marine reserve in calm sea conditions, including boats longer than seven metres, due to its distance offshore and exposed location.

Underwater visibility is generally good due low levels of sedimentation and run-off, but is poor during seasonal phytoplankton blooms.

People must not feed fish as it disturbs their natural behaviour, and they must take care when anchoring to avoid damaging the sea floor.