Auckland's natural environment
Wetlands
Wonderful wetlands
Wetlands form a vital link between land and water. Wetlands once covered extensive areas of the lowland parts of New Zealand, but the majority have been drained for farming, flood control and urban development:
- less than 10 per cent of our original wetlands survive in New Zealand
- wetlands now cover less than two per cent of New Zealand's land area, but are home to 22 per cent of our bird species and 30 per cent of our native freshwater fish!
A threatened ecosystem
Lowland wetlands and riverine systems have only recently been recognised as one of New Zealand's most threatened ecosystems. Wetlands are special and dynamic places and contain a diverse range of flora and fauna, offering significant habitat for many rare and threatened species.
Most of New Zealand's wetland plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world. Endemic birds include:
- fernbirds
- brown teal
- New Zealand dabchick
- scaup, shelduck and paradise shelducks.
Wetlands
The importance of wetland ecosystems is recognised internationally, and New Zealand is a signatory to the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Significance.
Wetland types
No two wetlands are exactly alike. The mix of plants and animals living in a wetland will vary with local conditions (e.g. climate, water flow, salinity, nutrient levels and substrate). Different types of plant/animal communities will be present in larger wetlands and all wetlands will change over time as environmental conditions change.
Types of wetland found in the Auckland region include:
| Swamp forests | Remnants of swamp forests can still be found in the region, such as the kahikatea forest at Omaha. Swamp forests are dominated by kahikatea, swamp maire, pukatea, cabbage tree. Swamp maire is now an uncommon species in the region and grows in association with kiekie, rushes and sedges. |
| Raupo swamps | Found in many gully and stream systems in the region and around the edges of lakes and ponds. Fernbird, bittern and spotless crake often make their home in these wetlands. |
| Sedgeland and rushland swamps | Usually dominated by a mix of rushes and sedges such as Carex spp, Juncus spp, giant umbrella sedge, Baumea spp, Eleocharis spp and Isolepis spp. And regionally threatened wetland herbs such as Epilobium pallidflorum can sometimes be found. Often heavily impacted by grazing and farming activities. |
| Flax/cabbage tree swamps | Flax often grows in association with lowland swamps with cabbage trees scattered through the wetland. Flax and cabbage trees are often found in association with raupo, rushes and sedges e.g. parts of Te Henga wetland. |
| Manuka shrubland bogs | Manuka often grows in association with swamps and with cabbage tree, karamu, putaputaweta, Carex, Sphagnum moss and Juncus spp. |
| Dune lakes and associated wetland vegetation | Are often fringed by raupo, Baumea articulata and Eleocharis sphacelata. |
Saline (saltwater) wetlands in the Auckland region include:
| Mangrove swamps | These are a characteristic feature of the region's harbours. |
| Saltmarsh | These are dominated by sea rush, oioi and saltmarsh ribbon wood. |
Wetland protection and restoration
The conservation and restoration of wetland ecosystems can make a real and positive difference for wetland species.
In ARC currently works with over 100 community groups working a range of biodiversity protection, including wetland restoration and conservation throughout the region.
What affects wetlands?
- Drainage or modification
- Clearance of native vegetation in and around a wetland
- Channelling or diverting streams
- Piping waterways
- Removal of stream or wetland edge (riparian) vegetation
- Construction of weirs to dam water
- Creating artificial drains to control the water table.
What can I do to protect a wetland?
- Control weeds and pests (e.g willows, possums and mustelids)
- Fence the wetland to prevent stock trampling and browsing of vegetation and pugging of the ground. Fencing will also encourage plants to regenerate from natural seed sources
- Restore the edges of wetland areas by planting suitable native species, which are sourced and grown from the local area
- Protect the wetland by way of a conservation covenant or QEII Trust covenant
- Join the National Wetland Trust
You may be eligible for a small-scale initiatives funding for any restoration you under take.
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