Wetlands and saltmarsh
From the wetlands and saltmarshes, we source the fibre of the raupō – the reeds that give Whakaraupō its name. Raupō, a summer-green swamp plant, is the kaitiaki/guardian of the low-lying areas around Teddington. Other important plant species are harakeke/flax and seagrass which in turn provide habitat for fish such as inanga/whitebait and at least 30 species of birds making the head of Whakaraupo a nationally significant bird habitat.
Raupō is not well established in Whakaraupō. Exotic plant species dominate, and erosion of the surrounding hills has led to high sedimentation rates – with muddy bays more common than healthy wetlands.
The Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour plan aims to re-establish the natural drainage paths and the coastal wetlands and to enhance the saltmarsh at the head of the bay.
This ecological band will benefit from the development of a programme to target erosion and sedimentation. We will also target key pollutants and improve marine biodiversity.
Download the plan
Do you want to know more about the plan? Use the following link to download:
Download (PDF 11MB)