Leigh Marine Laboratory
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The Leigh Marine Laboratory is the marine research facility for the University of Auckland in New Zealand.[1] The laboratory is situated in north eastern New Zealand, 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Auckland city. The facility is perched on the cliffs overlooking the Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Marine Reserve that covers 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) of coastline from Cape Rodney to Okakari Point.
Leigh Marine Laboratory was opened in 1964 in the small coastal community of Leigh. The first director of the marine laboratory, Bill Ballantine was instrumental in the establishment of the adjacent Goat Island marine reserve in 1975, the first marine protected area in New Zealand.[2][3]
In 2009 a major redevelopment of the Leigh Marine Laboratory began with new facilities being opened in 2010.[1] The new facilities included a new accommodation and workshop building, a three-story research building and an interpretive educational centre for public visitors.
