A black coral colony found in Fiordland, New Zealand, is reported to be about 4 metres tall and 4.5 metres across. Its age is estimated at 300–400 years, but the account does not disclose how this individual was aged. The estimate reaches back centuries; it should not be mistaken for a confirmed specimen-specific dating result.
How big is the Fiordland black coral, and where was it found?
The colony was encountered in the deep waters of Fiordland during work to understand and map protected coral distributions. A 2026 account from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, republished by ScienceDaily, describes it as about 4 metres tall and 4.5 metres wide, and among the largest black corals recorded in New Zealand waters. The account does not give a precise site or encounter date.
Professor James Bell, a marine biologist at Te Herenga Waka, called it “absolutely huge.” He said it was by far the largest black coral he had seen in 25 years as a marine biologist; the larger corals divers usually encounter are less than two to three metres tall.
How old is it—and what does “older than many nations” mean?
The reported estimate for this colony is 300–400 years old. The available account does not explain whether the estimate came from its size, species growth data, analysis of coral material, or another method. It is therefore best understood as a reported estimate, not a published direct dating result for this individual.
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The comparison with nations is a way to convey the timescale: an age of several centuries reaches back before many modern nation-states. It is not a technical age category, and it does not mean the coral predates every nation. No named country’s founding date is needed to understand the comparison.
What other New Zealand black corals reveal about age
Studies of other New Zealand black corals show that some can live for centuries or millennia. These are findings for sampled colonies of particular taxa, not age measurements of the Fiordland giant.
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| Study or summary | Reported ages | What the figures describe |
|---|---|---|
| Earth Sciences New Zealand’s 2026 summary of a study published in Deep Sea Research Part II | 71–2,221 years | Sampled corals from the Bay of Plenty, Hikurangi Margin, Chatham Rise and Fiordland. The youngest was Antipathella fiordensis; the oldest was an Antipatharia coral whose genus was not established. Earth Sciences New Zealand summary; published study. |
| “Growth and longevity of New Zealand black corals,” Deep Sea Research Part I, 2020 | 1,178–2,614 years for sampled Leiopathes; 158–274 years for sampled Antipathes and Antipathella fiordensis | Estimates for colonies in the study, not for the newly reported giant. 2020 study. |
| DOC-commissioned NIWA study, 2019 | More than 385 years for Bathypathes patula | The study found that the zone-counting protocols tested could not reliably estimate age. DOC/NIWA report. |
Those results also show why a single age cannot be generalized to all black corals: estimates vary by species or genus, location, sample and dating approach. In the 2019 Bathypathes patula work, visual zone counting was not shown to be a reliable way to estimate age.
Why a living black coral may look white
Black corals are animals in the order Antipatharia. “Black” refers to their dark, hard protein-based skeleton, which is covered by living tissue. That tissue can be a different color, so a living colony may look pale rather than black. The New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC) says living Antipathes fiordensis typically appears white. DOC’s web page, accessed in 2026, lists about 58 black-coral species known in New Zealand waters. DOC: Black corals.
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Are black corals protected in New Zealand?
Yes. DOC says every black coral species in the order Antipatharia is protected under New Zealand’s Wildlife Act 1953. Deliberately collecting or damaging one is illegal. If a protected coral is accidentally brought to the surface, it must be returned to the sea immediately. Check DOC’s black-coral guidance for identification and protection information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How disturbance can harm slow-growing corals
DOC warns that trawling and dredging damage deepwater corals and their habitats. Recovery may take decades or possibly hundreds of years because deepwater species grow very slowly; those are broad estimates, not a recovery forecast for the Fiordland colony. In shallower water, anchors, fishing gear, careless diving and collecting can also cause harm.
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Mapping large colonies can help reduce avoidable impacts. Bell said that knowing where they occur can help people avoid anchoring or dropping pots nearby. Earth Sciences New Zealand emerita scientist Di Tracey has likewise emphasized that longevity and growth-rate information matters when assessing how corals may recover after disturbance.
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