Marine Conservation

Guardians of Aroa Lagoon

 

Aroa Lagoonarium Marine Sanctuary is one of Rarotonga's most treasured marine environments and is protected under a traditional Ra'ui.

 

At The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium, our Marine Conservation Programme allows guests to explore this unique ecosystem while contributing to reef conservation, restoration and research alongside our marine scientists.

 

Marine Conservation Highlights To Date 

  • Aroa Lagoon declared as a Rau'i (protected area) by traditional leaders on 1 March 2000.
  • 2000+ Coral Fragments Restored
  • 1 Active Restoration Site
  • 100+ Restoration Frames deployed
  • 2 Ecological Baseline Surveys
  • Community Engaged in Conservation

 

 

 

Guest Programmes @ The Rarotongan 

Discover the different ways you can explore and contribute to Aroa Lagoonarium Marine Sanctuary.

REEF GUARDIANS

 

Designed for young explorers, combining snorkelling, marine science and reef discovery.

 

 

REEF DISCOVERY

Learn how marine scientists study reef ecosystems through hands-on monitoring and data collection.

CORAL RESTORATION EXPERIENCE

 

Take part in active reef restoration by helping maintain our coral nursery site at Aroa Lagoonarium Marine Sanctuary. 

REEF RESEARCH SERIES

Evening presentations exploring marine science, conservation and current reef research in the Cook Islands.

Restoring Rarotonga’s Reefs

The Rarotongan Beach Resort's Marine Conservation Team is expanding coral restoration efforts within our protected Aroa Lagoonarium Marine Sanctuary to support reef recovery and improve habitat for marine life.

 

The project builds on the existing coral nursery within the protected traditional Ra'ui (where fishing and the taking or disturbing of any marine life is prohibited) promoting coral transplantation, ecological monitoring and scientific research to better understand reef recovery while increasing coral cover and connectivity.

 

Explore the Marine Conservation Project

Discover the work completed at our Aroa Lagoonarium coral restoration site during 2025 through GIS mapping. 

View StoryMap →

Meet our Marine Scientist

Have questions about our programmes or reef conservation activities at Aroa Lagoonarium Marine Sanctuary? Get in touch. 

Please be aware that our Marine Conservation Reef Guardians and Discovery Programmes are exclusively for in-house guests of The Rarotongan and/or Sanctuary Rarotonga resorts.  

 

Zoe Teikamata

Marine Conservation Programme Lead I The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Lagoonarium and Sanctuary Rarotonga-on the beach 

 
Leading reef restoration, marine monitoring and conservation initiatives at The Rarotongan Resort Group while conducting
Master's research on coral restoration within Aroa Lagoonarium Marine Sanctuary.