Appendix B: Significant Natural Heritage Areas and Values
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Appendix B 1 Appendix B Notes about freshwater environments or species Notes about terrestrial environments or species Significant Natural Heritage Notes about coastal or marine environments or Areas and Values species Geological or landform notes Introduction 1. The natural heritage areas of regional significance in the Auckland Region were first published in the Annotations to Maps Auckland Regional Planning Scheme (ARPS)(i.e., 4 LAKES SLIPPER, SPECTACLE AND those that were the subject of Policy 7.28 of ARPS) TOMARATA are all dune lakes impounded have been carried into this RPS. These areas are the by Holocene dune sands. Some enrichment subject of Method 6.4.2.2 of the heritage chapter. of Lakes Slipper and Spectacle is evident, The notes have been edited to a limited extent only, to partly due to wastes supplied from adjacent remove statements no longer applicable or accurate. farm land. The fern Loxsoma cunninghamii The locations of these areas are mapped in Volume is found in the vicinity of Lake Tomarata II of the RPS (See Map Series 2, Sheets 1-3). and a significant freshwater wetland is 2. Only areas of regional significance are included in situated on the southern and eastern this appendix, so their reference numbers are not margins of this lake. Lake Tomarata still sequential – some areas which were numbered in retains a relatively unpolluted clear water the ARPS are omitted. Unless otherwise stated environment although ease of access, in the notes, values recorded in this appendix are the boat launching ramp and picnic considered to be of regional importance. facilities have encouraged swimming, skiing and powerboating which may need 3. This appendix is not considered to be a complete to be controlled in the future. Bird species record of all significant natural and physical heritage around the lakes include banded rail, resources in the Auckland Region. mallard duck, pukeko and possibly bittern. Readers are referred to the ARPS for documentation 8 BIRDS OF PAKIRI AREA include white- regarding the original creation of the annotations faced heron, blue reef heron, banded rail and maps. and pied stilt. New Zealand dotterel and 4. Readers are referred to the Proposed Regional Plan: variable oystercatcher breed in the area. Coastal for further detailed information on coastal 9 OKAKARI POINT to MANGAWHAI environment values. HARBOUR (Pakiri beach) is the only The following abbreviations and symbols are used in the exposed east coast surf beach free of annotations housing and backed by extensive sand dunes and dune lakes. As a wild and scenic ACC Auckland City Council coastline, it is of regional significance and ARC Auckland Regional Council should be protected. The endemic sedge, a.s.l. above sea level pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis), is found B.P. before present on the dunes along the Pakiri coast. cumecs cubic metres per second NWASCO National Water and Soil 12 CAPE RODNEY to OKAKARI POINT Conservation Organisation MARINE RESERVE. This reserve was OSNZ Ornithological Society of New Zealand gazetted in 1975 as New Zealand's first RFBPS Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society marine reserve. This area has a great sp., spp. species (singular, plural) diversity of near shore, reef-dwelling WRPS Waitakere Ranges marine organisms in a clean silt-free Protection Society environment which contrasts with much of the inner gulf area. Gordon and Ballantine 2 Appendix B (1976) contains a comprehensive summary erosion at Omaha is a problem, given the of the geology, climate, hydrology and establishment in 1968 of a fixed property biology of this area, and its regional boundary related to the then high water significance. Continuing study of the area mark. A beach protection plan has been is going on at the adjacent University of implemented in an attempt to stabilise the Auckland Marine Research Laboratory. eroding beach. This reserve is considered to be of national The Omaha Spit attracts a wintering flock importance. of New Zealand dotterel. 15 OMAHA ECOLOGICAL AREA (Mt 17 LOWLAND KAHIKATEA SWAMP Tamahunga). This steep, elevated (330 FOREST. This area has one of the best m) area is covered mainly in broadleaf- examples of this type left in Northland podocarp forest with young kauri and Auckland; such forests are quite throughout. In gullies there are dense rare. This stand is of high quality with stands of taraire, kohekohe and towai. an intact canopy and an almost intact The native frog Leiopelma hochstetteri understorey although damage by stock is inhabits this forest. It is the most primitive occurring. Its value is also increased as it of all living anurans and has no free- is part of an intact vegetational sequence swimming tadpole stage. It is known to from estuarine salt marsh to forest; such be in the Waitakere and Hunua Ranges sequences are now very rare. Because of and in Dome Forest Stewardship Area (and its high ecological and scientific values, outside the Region, in the Coromandel this example of this sequence is of national Range) and is considered to be a nationally importance and is worthy of preservation. threatened species. The ecological area is It is in private ownership. considered to be of national importance. 20 DOME FOREST STEWARDSHIP AREA Omaha Ecological Area is on the New comprises 401 hectares of regenerating Zealand walkway north-south route. native forest and is dominated by a 336 m This area is administered by the Department high flat-topped mountain, the Dome. The of Conservation. forest is a broadleaf-podocarp type with kauri, rimu, miro, totara and kahikatea 16 MANGATAWHIRI BARRIER-SPIT mixed with taraire, puriri, kohekohe, and (OMAHA) is composed of unconsolidated towai throughout. Subcanopy species Holocene coastal sediments deposited include young canopy trees and a thick either side of an initial barrier-ridge. The cover of mapou, nikau, ponga, rewarewa, landform records the episodic depositional rangiora and mingimingi. To the east of history of the area. the Dome a small island of mature kauri The present phase is characterised by erosion still exists, giving an indication of the along the ocean beach, accentuated by the original composition of the forest. recent residential development involving a The forest has added scientific value due to lowering of the dune topography. Ministry the presence in damp valleys of the native of Works and Development profile data frog, Leiopelma hochstetteri. This frog is (1965-68) indicates the 'elastic' nature also found elsewhere in the Region (see of the beach front and the expected note 15). This area is considered to be of magnitude of change in beach dimension, national significance. 10-20 m per decade, which increases towards the distal end of the spit under the The Department of Conservation influence of current and tidal movements administers this forest. at the harbour entrance. The inherent 21 The KAIPARA HARBOUR is one of mobility in the plan position of a fixed the three areas in the Auckland Region vertical such as high water mark is the which is of national and international fundamental reason why contemporary ornithological significance, attracting Appendix B 3 tens of thousands of birds each year from point are the major roosts remaining on the South Island and from the arctic and the eastern side of the harbour. Sand subarctic regions. Regular large-scale Island is a wildlife management reserve movement of birds occurs between the now administered by the Department of Kaipara and Manukau harbours and Conservation. The area between Waikiri the Firth of Thames. With its extensive Creek and Te Ngaio Point was allocated to tidal flats, mangroves and salt marshes, the Department of Conservation in 1987 it is an important feeding area for waders for administration as a stewardship area. such as godwit, knot, South Island pied 26 PAPAKANUI SPIT is a mobile sandspit oystercatcher, wrybill and pied stilt. The enclosing Waionui inlet. The spit is harbour and shore areas also support pied administered by the Department of shag, white-faced heron, red-billed gull, Conservation. This area is an outstanding caspian tern, white-fronted tern, mallard wildlife habitat within the Region and is duck, cattle egret, welcome swallow and of national importance. It also has areas white heron. The black stilt and fairy tern of pingao. It is important as a breeding are seen occasionally. and roosting area for the New Zealand 22 TAUHOA SCIENTIFIC R ESERVE dotterel and the fairy tern. The spit was comprises 291 hectares, 75-80% of which important as habitat for caspian tern, is dense mangrove forest. It is one of however the birds have moved to other only two such significant reserves in parts of the Kaipara Harbour, possibly as a New Zealand and is administered by the result of disturbance from activities on the Department of Conservation. It was vested spit. The spit itself borders the Papakanui in the University of Auckland in 1949 and Stewardship Area which is managed by the classified as a flora and fauna reserve. It Department of Conservation , gazetted as is open to the public but entry may be an Air Weapons Range and used by the restricted to scientific groups if necessary. New Zealand Defence Force. The reserve is considered to be of national 27 WAIONUI INLET is an important importance. estuarine habitat with a rich diversity 24 GUM STORE CREEK has a rich assemblage of bird life including the fernbird. The of habitats – mangroves, mudflats, sand estuarine fringes are notable for the banks, scrub and freshwater wetlands. It succession of plant communities between is an important shag roosting area. the tidal flats and dune areas. 25 The TAPORA COAST has an unusually 28 KAIPARA SAND DUNES. The South rich variety of habitats, making this an area Kaipara dune barrier is a complex of national and international significance sedimentary structure built at the same for bird life: freshwater wetlands, pingao time and in the same manner as the on mobile sands, salt marshes, mangroves Manukau barrier.