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The notes have been edited to a limited extent only, to partly due to wastes supplied from adjacent remove statements no longer applicable or accurate.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. The Holocene dune of and islands of hard sand. With its hard the South Kaipara barrier, with only an sand areas and coastal margins, it is a major incipient soil cover, extends 3.5 km inland roosting area in the Kaipara Harbour for from the western shore line. Dune belts 5 waders. The OSNZ survey made in March (youngest) to 1 (oldest) represent 5 stages 1978 resulted in sightings of the following of progradation during periods of sea-level species: South Island pied oystercatcher, regression alternating with periods of New Zealand dotterel, banded dotterel, transgression. They illustrate fluctuations wrybill, godwit, turnstone, knot, pied stilt, in the overall fall in post-glacial sea level grey plover and eastern golden plover. Also from approximately 10,000 years ago until eight species of water birds were seen. Many the beginning of this century (Schofield of the roosting areas in the Kaipara have 1960; 1975). been destroyed by reclamation. The Tapora coast together with Jordan's and Oyster 4 Appendix B

 29 NORTHERN UNCONSOLIDATED During the 1970s some of the lakes DUNE AREA. The area is a varied dried up considerably. Therefore the complex of low and high sand landforms. larger, deeper lakes – Kereta, Kuwakatai, The high unconsolidated dune rises to Ototoa, Okaihua – have become of critical over 60m and is unique in the Region. The importance to wildlife. While the levels of dunes have significant native vegetation water in the smaller and shallower lakes and bird life. Wetlands within this area fluctuate seasonally and from year to year, have rich botanical associations and they remain significant habitats for birds. contribute to habitat variety. The area is In addition to the four lakes mentioned attractive for off-road vehicle recreation, above, Kereta South I, Otakanini Topu and should be regulated to prevent conflict South, and the Okiritoto Stream and with the natural processes and character swamp are of very high value for wildlife. of the area. Because of the rich and varied Pukeko, pied shag, little shag, little black land form and rich biological associations, shag, black shag, mallard duck, grey duck, this area is of national significance. It grey teal, white-faced heron, black swan, should be protected from development and paradise duck, New Zealand shoveler, pied other activities which would detract from stilt, caspian tern, kingfisher, bittern and its natural character. harrier are among the species found in  30 COAL SEAM HILL BIOLOGICAL AREA the dune lakes area. The fernbird, bittern, is a striking kanuka-covered land form and New Zealand scaup – the numbers rising 30m above the surrounding dune of which are on the decline throughout land which, prior to sand stabilisation, had New Zealand because of the continual an island-like appearance. The hill has a drainage of fresh-water wetlands – are small seam of coal containing sub-fossil also found around the lakes. The OSNZ remains of broadleaf and coniferous trees. has noticed a decline in the number of At the hill-top there is a well concealed New Zealand scaup over the last few flat-bottomed 'crater-like' basin. This basin years. Small numbers of dabchick breed is entirely surrounded by stable vegetated here. The dune lake system provides the sand slopes, although two small 'blow-ins' specialised habitat which is required by are permitting sand spillage into it. these threatened species and, as such, warrants preservation. The slopes and rim of the basin are covered with kanuka forest composed of a kanuka  32 LAKE OTOTOA may be the only water canopy with a shrub layer of small kanuka body in the Region where freshwater with scattered mingimingi, Coprosma, crayfish, koura Paranephrops( planifrons) Myrsine divaricata, Corokia cotoneaster , are abundant. (See note 31.) and broom. The following bird species are known from The actual basin is dominated by the the lake (from OSNZ, 1978 Surveys): little presence of one massive puriri, flanked on shag, pukeko, black swan, black shag, the fringes by 15m high kanuka, scattered white-faced heron, pied shag, little black cabbage trees and a tall subcanopy of shag, dabchick, kingfisher, harrier, mallard Lophomyrtus obcordata, houpara, karamu duck, grey duck, bittern. (See note 31.) and Myrsine divaricata.  34 LAKE KUWAKATAI is valued for its This land is protected by a covenant. wildlife significance. The following birds have been recorded (from OSNZ, 1978  31 KAIPARA DUNE LAKES. This extensive Surveys): pukeko, mallard duck, pied shag, system of lakes is regionally significant in black shag, little shag, grey duck, paradise that it provides an open, shallow freshwater duck, white-faced heron, dabchick, little habitat for a number of threatened species black shag, bittern, black swan, shoveler of wildlife as well as for more common duck, rosella parakeet, pied stilt, harrier. ones. There is also a pied shag colony on this lake. Appendix B 5

It is significant because it is unusual to find is found beneath the taraire. The forest is such colonies on freshwater lakes. Some considered to be of national importance. little shags are also found in the colony. The Mt Auckland section of the New  36 MURIWAI AND RANGITIRA BEACH Zealand walkway passes through the TOHEROA BEDS. This is the only Glorit farm settlement, through the forest location for toheroa in the Region. The via the Mt Auckland summit (305m) and shellfish population normally fluctuates a small area of exotic afforestation. between 2-5 million but in recent years  40 JORDAN'S FARM AND OYSTER stocks have dwindled to well below this POINT. Due to reclamation there are few level due to a number of factors including remaining roosting areas in the Kaipara over exploitation, natural population Harbour. The Tapora coast is one of the fluctuations, wave action and vehicular major roosts (see note 25). Jordan's Farm damage to the sand habitat. The viability and Oyster Point are the only major of the habitat may be dependent on ones in the southern part of the harbour freshwater seepage from the dune lakes. where up to 10,000 birds roost during the The toheroa population is too low to summer, and are therefore of national support an open season. The Ministry and international importance. The of Agriculture and Fisheries which following species have been sighted: South administers the beds continues to monitor Island pied oystercatcher, New Zealand toheroa numbers. dotterel, banded dotterel, wrybill, godwit,  37 MURIWAI AND RANGITIRA BEACHES turnstone, knot, grey plover, and eastern are long, exposed surf beaches with sandy golden plover. Pied stilt are known to shores, backed by sand dunes, often breed in the area. covered with pingao. Birds of the coast  43 KAUKAPAKAPA ESTUARY SCIENTIFIC line include the variable oystercatcher, RESERVE has been set aside as it is a New Zealand dotterel, banded dotterel, significant area of regenerating kauri. It pipit, pied stilt, white-fronted tern, little is an important habitat area for wildlife black shag, little shag, white-faced heron, with a colony of shags and other species blue penguin, and caspian tern. of birds nesting. The 209 hectare forest  38 MOTUREMU ISLAND is a scenic reserve is administered by the Department of administered by the Department of Conservation. Conservation. It is a significant area for  45 PARAKAI GEOTHERMAL FIELD. This eastern golden plover and the endangered is the hottest geothermal water resource kaka beak. Pied stilts and grey faced in the Region. Hot water is presently petrels are known to breed in the area. This abstracted at an average rate of about 560 area is considered to be of international cubic metres per day at up to 65oC. There importance. are no surface springs.  39 ATUANUI STEWARDSHIP AREA It is estimated that the field can sustain up (MOUNT AUCKLAND). An indigenous to 700 m3/day draw off. state forest since 1887, this area of podocarp/  47 MAHURANGI HARBOUR. This area kauri/hardwood forest, although logged, is a regionally important centre for has never been damaged by fire. Rimu and oyster farming. The catchment should kauri are found in scattered groups and are be managed to maintain water quality. regenerating throughout. Kahikatea and Several oyster farms are located within totara are also seen in scattered locations. the harbour. Mangroves are significant Associated with this is a dense mosaic and important in this harbour. The upper of hardwood species including taraire, reaches of the harbour are bordered by karaka, puriri, kohekohe, hinau and remnants of kahikatea swamp forest. kowhai. There are many epiphytes and Much of the land of the northern side is lianas, and a rare orchid Yoania australis reserve land. 6 Appendix B

 58 THE WEITI ESTUARY is notable for the  62 WAIWERA GEOTHERMAL FIELD. series of chenier-type shell spits which Abstractions of geothermal water from this have formed within the estuary. These field average at about 1150 cubic metres/ have been used to derive a sea level curve day at up to about 53oC. The capacity of the for the last 10,000 years and are considered resource is estimated at 1300 cubic metres/ to be internationally significant landforms. day. Hot springs on the beach ceased in the The estuary is not a significant wading 1970s due to declining water levels in the bird feeding ground, but the shell spits field. are a good high tide roosting site for the  63 OREWA ESTUARY is a moderately sized wading birds that feed in the adjacent estuary with a variety of habitats for plants intertidal areas to the south and for the and animal communities in the marine coastal birds that use the estuary itself. area. About 85% of the estuary is made up The most seaward shell bank is particularly of intertidal banks upon which migratory important as one of the key breeding wading birds feed. They use this estuary as grounds in the Region for the threatened a stepping stone in their travels. A range New Zealand dotterel. of coastal birds, particularly shags, also  59-61 WITHIN THE WAIWERA, feed within the estuary as do a number of WENDERHOLM AND PUHOI area species of waterfowl that utilise the estuary there is a considerable variety of intertidal and the adjacent oxidation ponds on the substrates which together form a complex southern margins. The mangroves and array of habitats supporting a variety saltmarsh that occupy the remaining parts of animal and plant communities. The of the estuary are a habitat for secretive communities living on the wave-cut coastal fringe birds particularly where platforms at Wenderholm have been found adjoining terrestrial vegetation provides to be diverse and in good condition. The shelter for the birds at high tide and mobility of the substrate on the open potential nesting sites. beach at Wenderholm means that benthic  68 TIRITIRI MATANGI ISLAND. Grazing organisms tend to be confined to subtidal animals were removed from this island areas. Along the hard shores here the in 1972 and the plant succession from natural marine area adjoins an important pasture is being studied. In limited areas area of coastal taraire forest on a headland succession has progressed from grass or peninsula. The intertidal flats within land to manuka and kanuka to mapou the Waiwera and Puhoi estuaries are used dominance and further to kohekohe and as a feeding ground by a variety of wading mahoe. Pohutukawa are now appearing in birds, many of which use these estuaries former grass land and bracken areas. The as a stepping stone in their travels. Many lack of possum and kikuyu grass makes of these birds roost on the sandy area at the island suitable for research on forest the entrance to the Waiwera Estuary at regeneration. The absence of rats (other high tide. A variety of other coastal birds than kiore) and mustelids makes the island feed and roost within this area. A limited of considerable value as a wildlife refuge. It amount of saltmarsh and mangrove is thus ideal for the study and introduction line the Waiwera Estuary, but it is still of native fauna. Numerous bird species a good habitat for coastal fringe birds breed on the island – tui, spotless crake, because of the presence of the freshwater little blue penguin, pukeko, grey-faced Straka's Dam on the boundary. The saline petrel, fantail, grey warbler, silvereye, vegetation areas in the Puhoi Estuary are kingfisher, pipit, and harrier. It is the more substantial and are some of the best nearest island to Auckland inhabited by in the Rodney ecological district. the bellbird. The red crown parakeet was Appendix B 7

introduced in 1974 from aviary-reared warbler, fantail and silvereye are abundant stock. Saddleback were also introduced and are known to breed on the islands. in 1985, and are breeding successfully. Tui, morepork and shining cuckoo are Diving petrel and sooty shearwater nest on occasionally seen. the rock stacks. Kaka, tomtit and pigeon The vegetation on some of these islands is visit the island. close to primitive conditions, but others in This island is part of the Hauraki Gulf the past have suffered from burning. Now Maritime Park. There is now open access the important species are pohutukawa, and people freely visit to experience the karo, houpara, tawapou and coastal wide variety of forest and shore birds found mahoe (Melicytus novae-zelandiae). close to Auckland. Since 1984, school Such habitats are of regional and national groups and members of the public have importance. been involved in tree planting (at a rate  74 RIVERHEAD ECOLOGICAL AREA. of about 37,000 trees per year) to recreate This is the last stand of indigenous forest coastal forest in a joint project run by of an appreciable size left in the Riverhead the Department of Conservation and the Forest. The most striking feature of World Fund for Nature. the block is its variability with forest  69 THE NOISES, which include types being exhibited from a relatively Motuhoropapa Island, Otata Island, simple kanuka-Gahnia association to Maria Island and David Rocks, are small highly complex podocarp forest, and all and unpopulated. They have a diverse and intermediate stages of ‘nursery’ kanuka- abundant bird life, which depends on their hardwood and scrub-hardwood types. comparative inaccessibly, lack of predators In addition, a coastal forest type is also and the plentiful marine life available in present. surrounding waters and on the foreshores. The two-tier kanuka-Gahnia association Norway rats were present on Maria Island grades into a number of kanuka-scrub- for a number of years, although it now hardwood types, one of which contains a appears that since 1962 these have been canopy layer of kanuka with subcanopy eradicated by the (then) Wildlife Service. and shrub layers of mapou, mahoe, Norway rats were also originally present toro, kohuhu, lancewood, hangehange on Motuhoropapa and Otata islands, and and karamu. Another type consists of were eradicated in 1962, and again in 1993. emergent rewarewa and putaputaweta with Unfortunately there are now a number of scattered kanuka over a dense mamaku environmentally damaging plants which and ponga subcanopy with the same are undermining the natural values of broadleaf species as above. this island group. For example, Rhamnus The simplest type of coastal forest consists alaternus is on Motuhoropapa Island, of a dense canopy of puriri and nikau Phoenix canaeriensis on Otata Island, and with tree ferns mixed throughout the mile-a-minute and boxthorn are present subcanopy. on Maria Island. The most complex of the forest types in Maria Island is one of the few places in the the area is podocarp forest. Here canopy Auckland Region where the white-faced layers vary from more or less pure kauri, storm petrel breeds. Birds commonly seen kahikatea or totara stands to mixtures in the Noises include kingfisher, blue reef containing kauri, rimu, totara, tanekaha, heron, red-billed gull, black shag, pied miro and even matai. Shrub and ground shag, little shag, white-fronted tern and layers are similarly well developed and gannet. The black-backed gull, harrier, contain a number of species not commonly welcome shallow, little blue penguin found within the other associations such and the less commonly seen grey-faced as maire, Alseuosmia macrophylla, Corokia petrel breed on the islands. The grey buddleioides and Gleichenia cunninghamii. 8 Appendix B

The indigenous fern, Loxsoma The coastal forest consists of a dense cunninghamii, which is found in only a canopy layer formed by karaka, puriri, few other areas in the Region, grows in pohutukawa and titoki. Nikau and this reserve. kawakawa alone are common as ground  76 LOOKOUT BIOLOGICAL AREA. This to subcanopy species. The older trees are area, the dominant vegetative cover of blanketed by orchids, ferns, Astelia spp., which is kanuka forest, is a representative and lianas. On the fringes of these dense remnant of a type once found in the area. groves, a subcanopy layer of broadleaf Where the kanuka canopy is absent, a trees, including kohekohe, whau, turepo, scrub-hardwood forest has developed. houpara, karamu, wharangi, mahoe and the occasional kowhai and ngaio occurs The kanuka forest has a definite three-tier beneath the more scattered canopy of structure consisting of a canopy layer of karaka. A shrub layer of nikau, kawakawa, kanuka up to 15m high, a dense thicket hangehange, and Coprosma rhamnoides layer of Pseudopanax spp. and a low scrub occurs in these areas. tier of Coprosma spp. and mingimingi. Modifications of this basic pattern are The kanuka-broadleaf scrub areas occur common where rewarewa, kohuhu, akeake on the eastern side of the reserve and are added to the canopy, mapou, mahoe consists of about equal portions of kanuka to the subcanopy and kawakawa, Corokia and broadleaf species throughout. The cotoneaster and ferns to the ground storey. latter includes mahoe, wharangi, karamu, akeake, lancewood, mapou, rangiora, The scrub-hardwood association is hangehange and cabbage trees. characterised by mahoe, karamu, hangehange, mapou, five-finger and The swamp areas around Lake Okaihau scattered emergent rewarewa, akeake, are chiefly raupo dominated although kohuhu and cabbage trees. Rangiora, flax, Juncus spp. and Cyperus ustulatus kawakawa and Coprosma spp. are found are common. Broadleaf shrubs such in the subcanopy. as karamu, rangiora, hangehange and cabbage trees border the areas. This land is protected by a covenant. This land is protected by a covenant.  77 HODGES BASIN BIOLOGICAL AREA. This area contains valuable 'relic' groves of BIRDS OF LAKE OKAIHAU AREA typical coastal forest once common in the (OSNZ 1978 Survey) include: mallard area. The common pattern is one of dense duck, pukeko, pied stilt, paradise duck, groves of coastal forest in the sheltered white-faced heron, rosella parakeet, little hollows with a kanuka overstorey fringing shag, black shag, harrier, and black swan. these on the ridges and slopes. It is a valuable area for wildlife. The pockets of coastal forest contain groups  80 MURIWAI GANNET COLONY on of large karaka, old puriri and emergent Motutara Island (known locally as rewarewa with kohekohe, wharangi, Sugarloaf), a small rock stack off the mangeo, akeake, titoki and ngaio scattered headland at Muriwai beach, is a spill-over throughout. from the larger colony on Oaia Island. Motutara Island has become overcrowded. The kanuka forest has isolated cabbage tree Repeated attempts by the birds to nest on and rewarewa emergents with a shrub tier the mainland, though at first thwarted by of divaricating Coprosma spp., Myrsine interference from humans and dogs, have divaricata and mingimingi. since been successful. There are now two

This land is protected by a covenant. mainland gannet nesting colonies. All  78 LAKE OKAIHAU BIOLOGICAL AREA. colonies are considered to be of national This reserve contains the best example importance. Restraining fences have been of true coastal forest still remaining in built to protect the colonies and a viewing Woodhill, as well as areas of kanuka- platform has been provided. broadleaf scrub and raupo swamp. Appendix B 9

 82 ANDESITIC PILLOW LAVA FLOWS. (Eleocharis sphacelata), the native swamp This lava has been deposited under water millet (Isachne australis), and a milfoil to form a heap of cylindrical bodies like a (Myriophyllum propinquum). Raupo pile of pillows. The examples at Maori Bay (Typha orientalis), Baumea spp. and swamp are the best in New Zealand and among millet are the dominant species found in the best in the world; they are therefore areas where the water is a few centimetres of national significance. The pillow lavas deep. Cabbage trees, flax and manuka are are extremely well formed. They include found on the margins or islands within the a number of very large individual pillows, swamp. Te Henga marsh supports up to deposited in 1500m depth of water. A 15 native bird species. Some of these are second series of pillows exposed in the not common, in particular, the fernbird, cliffs at the south end of Te Henga are bittern, marsh crake, spotless crake, and also well preserved. The largest has a banded rail require protection. Those diameter of 8m (av. 1-2m) and is deposited common species found in the swamp under shallower water than those at Maori include grey ducks, mallard ducks and Bay. These two features provide useful pukeko. comparative material for the study of Te Henga marsh is of high ecological pillows formed under different conditions value as such habitats are increasingly (Searle 1964; WRPS 1978). rare. It is worthy of protection from  83 ERANGI POINT, the high promontory drainage, infilling, and waste materials north of the Waitakere River, supports with high oxygen demand on nutrient the only mainland spotted shag nesting values, as any such action could cause colony in the North Island. There are two irreversible damage to this ecosystem. grey-faced petrel colonies on Ihumoana Parts of this swamp have been purchased Island and Kauwahaia Island north and with the aim of preservation. The Royal south of Erangi Point. This petrel (oi) is Forest and Bird Protection Society owns a burrow dweller and needs protection approximately 30 hectares of it. The from rats, cats, people and other predators. Auckland Acclimatisation Society owns 2 Erangi Point is considered to be of national blocks totalling 13 hectares. The balance importance. remains in private ownership.  84 TE HENGA-WAINAMU AREA. Lakes Waiataru, Kawaupaku, and Swamp lands, lakes, dunes and native Wainamu and the lake at the junction of forest provide a complex of habitats with the Waiti and Te Aute streams have been rich and diverse flora and fauna not found formed by the damming of deep stream elsewhere in the Region. The area is valleys by wind-blown Holocene sands. In considered to be of national importance recent years the Te Henga dunes have been and worthy of protection. stabilised by vegetation in the area behind Te Henga marsh covers some 80 hectares the foredune. This has cut off the supply and is the largest coastal freshwater of sand to the inland dunes resulting in swamp within 120 km of Auckland. It accelerated removal of sand from the contains virtually all of the notable western parts of the inland dunes and the northern-swamp plant species including exposing of large areas of bare rock. The large monocotyledons. It provides the advance of the dune into Lake Wainamu required habitat for a number of animal will probably stop as the sand supply runs species. This swamp illustrates seral out. In 1979, 154 hectares around Lake succession related to the depth of the Wainamu, which is the largest natural lake substrate from the water table. Adventive in the Waitakere Ranges were acquired for water lilies (Nymphaea spp.) and the reserve purposes through joint funding water fern Azolla pinnata are found by the then Department of Lands and colonising the open water margins. In Survey, Waitemata City Council, Auckland shallow waters are found the tall spike rush Regional Authority, and the Waitakere 10 Appendix B

Ranges Protection Society and the Queen scrub areas support silvereye, fantail, grey Elizabeth II National Trust. The reserve, warbler and tui. In addition to these, the adjoining the Cascades Kauri Park, has a native forest areas have rosella parakeet, range of habitats – lake shore, sand dunes, shining cuckoo, morepork and pigeon. pasture and native forest. Some of the  85 BULL KELP (Durvillea antarctica) is rare dune area near the lake is a Waitakere City in the Region. It is found in significant Council reserve, set aside for the purpose quantities only along the west coast of preservation. between Te Henga and Piha. Pingao (Desmoschoenus spiralis) and  87 The WAITAKERE RANGES. These silvery sand grass (Spinifex hirsutus) are hills of Miocene volcanic rock rising found on the two large dune areas which to 475m above sea level are the major remain in their natural state. On the landform feature west of the urban area humus-rich sand around the mouth of and provide water catchment supply the Waitakere River there is a distinctive areas and outdoor recreation facilities for maritime plant community which includes the Region. It is a botanically rich area a native herb, milfoil, arrowgrass and containing 20% of all New Zealand's Gunnera arenaria. Birds which can be flowering plant species and 60% of all seen on the beach and dunes include New New Zealand fern species. There are a few Zealand dotterel, banded dotterel, pipit, species which do not extend beyond the black-backed gull and red-billed gull. Pied borders of the Waitakere Ranges – the local stilt are regularly seen in the small lagoon kowhai (Sophora microphylla var. fulvida), near the mouth of the main stream. There a forget-me-not (Myosotis petiolata) and is a spotted shag colony on Erangi Point. Hebe bishopiana. A large number (43)  Scrublands and forest types in the area of regionally threatened plants are found are varied. The most widespread type in the Waitakere area. The uncommon is dominated by manuka and kanuka; orchid Yoania australis is dependent on the cliffs and promontories flax and on taraire forest and is still found in the cabbage trees with numerous native Waitakeres. herbs dominate. On the series of fossil In spite of extensive milling and clearing sand dunes to the north-east of Lake in parts for farming, the greater portion Kawaupaku, there occurs an unusual type of the ranges is clad in native forest, some of scrub dominated by manuka and kanuka nearly virgin. Forest unaffected by milling, associated with coprosmas, kowhai, or only lightly logged, covers about one- mingimingi and a number of less common fifth of the Waitakeres. Areas which have species such as rohutu (Lophomyrtus developed beyond the tea tree stage, and obcordata), poataniwha (Melicope simplex) forest which was heavily milled but not and weeping matipo (Myrsine divaricata). burnt, cover more than a third of the Nikau and cabbage trees occur in the ranges. Most is in the Piha – Anawhata – hollows, and pohutukawa coastal forest Bethells area. Tea tree makes up about one around Erangi Point, Ihumoana and third of the vegetative cover (Esler 1974). Kauwahaia Islands. Surrounding Lake The unmilled forest has kauri as its most Kawaupaku the coastal forest is comprised distinctive tree. The kauri tree grows of tawapou, karaka, pohutukawa, singly or in small clusters, frequently, but kohekohe, mahoe and mangeao. To the not always, on the crests of ridges. Between north of Te Henga swamp there is a kauri- the widely spaced crowns of mature kauri, podocarp forest where standards of kauri emerge rimu, northern rata, miro, totara, rickers dominate the ridges. A mixture of tawa, tanekaha and rewarewa. Dense rimu, kahikatea, tawa and titoki is found stands of kauri rickers are also found. A in the gullies. Approximately 70 hectares very distinctive set of plants grow with of this forest are owned by the Royal kauri grass and species such as tawari, Forest and Bird Protection Society. The Appendix B 11

kawaka, Dracophyllum latifolium and Birds which live in the forest include grey the ferns Gleichenia cunninghamii and warbler, silvereye, fantail, tui, pigeon, Schizaea dichotoma which are more likely rosella, morepork, shining cuckoo, to be found with the kauri than away from kingfisher, kaka (seasonal) and tomtit. it. There are parts of the unmilled forest New Zealand falcon and long tailed bats where kauri is not common. In the upper have been reported from the Karekare Nihotupu catchment there is a fine stand area. of rimu and northern rata with no kauri. The forest gecko and native frog Leiopelma The cut-over forest is of variable age, hochstetteri (both depleted species) are and comprises northern rata with small found in the Waitakeres. Two species quantities of tawa, rewarewa, rimu, totara, of native land snail, Rhytida greenwoodi puriri and kahikatea. The distinctive (southern) and R. dunniae (northern), feature of the canopy is the variety of crown are found throughout the ranges; a large shapes and shades of green. There are variety (over 100 species) of smaller snails many component species such as mahoe, are numerous. Paryphanta busbyi, the heketara, kohuhu, mapou, coprosmas, tree large carnivorous kauri snail, can be found ferns and nikau. The climbers, supplejack in some areas. and kiekie, are abundant. The Waitakere Ranges are considered Coastal forest is not extensive but to be of national and international fragments are encountered in many places. importance. Pohutukawa dominate with associates  88 WHATIPU BEACH is an unconsolidated such as flax, Astelia banksii, Gahnia mobile sand area of dense black sand with lacera, kawakawa, kowhai, tawapou, large admixtures of titano-magnetite houpara, rangiora, the ferns Asplenium characteristic of west coast harbour oblongifolium and Polystichum richardii, entrances of the Region. The beach the succulent Peperomia urvilleana and has a history of rapid progradation and the renga lily. In the more sheltered gullies recession. High water mark was along pohutukawa forest grades into the forest the cliff-line in the 1840s and 1930s, and of the interior through a zone comprising near the present position (about 1 km kohekohe, karaka, wharangi and whau. west) in the 1960s and further out in the The vegetation around Welsey Spragg 1950s (Williams 1977; Esler 1974). The Memorial includes quantities of remote wilderness character of this area Dracophyllum sinclairii, Persoonia toru and is protected by ARC policies of foot access Gleichenia circinata and a smaller amount only to the area. of flax. This plant community approaches Whatipu is an important nesting area what is called gumfield shrubland which is for the white-fronted tern and a feeding becoming increasingly rare in the Region. area for the caspian tern and blue reef Differences among tea tree communities heron. Pingao is also found on the mobile result from variations in age, topography sands, and a diverse range of freshwater (altitude, aspect, slope), proximity to the wetlands are found on the sand flats close coast and the effect of grazing cattle. to the coastal cliffs. The area as a whole is Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) considered to be of national importance. dominates sites adjacent to the coastline,  90 The HUIA AREA is characterised by being more resistant to wind-borne salt c.f. a diversity of estuarine and salt marsh kanuka, (Kunzea ericoides) found further habitats, scrub, coastal forest, pasture inland. Tea tree communities represent a and kauri dominant rain forest. At the transitional stage in the succession towards end of the lower Huia dam, in the water mature forest, and some are now giving catchment area, there is a small area of way to kauri or rimu dominated forest native forest containing a rich variety of (Esler and Astridge, 1974). species some of which are rare. At the salt 12 Appendix B

marsh at Huia a small weevil (Peristoreus dominants. Hard beech is also found along australis), previously only found in the the Hellyers Creek escarpment. South Island, has been discovered. A The extensive sheltered intertidal areas newly discovered species of moth has been retain large quantities of soft sediment found in the area living in the flowers and derived from the watershed. The leaves of the marsh ribbonwood. Blue reef mangroves and salt marshes are important heron, pied stilt, oystercatcher and white- as wildlife habitats. Birds which can be faced heron are found on the intertidal flats found in the area include black shag, of Huia Bay. kingfisher, ducks and white-fronted tern.  95 KAIPATIKI ESCARPMENT. These steep The ARA/NWASCO Upper Waitemata south-facing slopes are partly within a Harbour Catchment Study provided reserve area and contain extensive areas detailed information on the environment of high quality native vegetation consisting and sensitivity of the catchment above the of kauri and mixed podocarp-broadleaf Greenhithe bridge. forest. The area contains some large  100 BIRDS OF THE UPPER WAITEMATA kohekohe, puriri, kahikatea and taraire HARBOUR. Birds which are commonly trees with abundant kauri and beech trees. seen throughout the Waitemata Harbour The presence of beech trees, Nothofagus include pied shag, little black shag, little truncata, makes the area of special interest. shag, pied stilt, black-backed gull and  97 SMITH'S BUSH, now dissected by the red-billed gull. Pukeko, mallard duck and motorway, has an outstanding grove of kingfisher are commonly found in the tidal giant puriri (some up to 6m in girth) and creeks and mangroves. The caspian tern thousands of slender, conical kahikatea as can often be seen in the sheltered waters of well as smaller numbers of taraire, kowhai, the upper harbour where they feed on fish titoki, karaka, tawa and totara. Ground caught by diving. The white-fronted tern ferns, climbing ferns, sedges and grasses is found in the vicinity of Hobsonville and are also found in the reserve. Whenuapai. Banded rail are not common  98 KAURI POINT is the most prominent tree but can be seen in some of the mangrove clad headland in the Waitemata Harbour. areas. The white-faced heron is commonly found around the tidal flats of the upper  99 CHELSEA BUSH, now confined to the harbour where it finds an abundant supply stream areas, is a remnant of the kauri of food in the mangroves. Blue reef herons mixed forest which was once common in can be seen in small numbers in the outer the Region. Here kauri and hard beech harbour area. White herons can on rare can be seen growing together and near occasions be seen at Pollen Island. The the reservoir a fine stand of the sedge, black shag is also seen occasionally around Eleocharis sphacelata, can be found. the Te Atatu peninsula. The South Island

THE WAITEMATA HARBOUR pied oystercatcher is common in numbers  91 UPPER WAITEMATA HARBOUR of up to 500. As many as 180 banded CREEKS. Brighams, Rangitopuni, dotterel have been sighted on Pollen and Paremoremo, Lucas and Hellyers creeks Traherne islands. Wrybills are present in in the upper reaches of the Waitemata season as are godwits. Since 1978 the New Harbour offer largely unspoilt tidal inlets Zealand dotterel has made a return to the with hill sides of regenerating native forest harbour and has nested successfully in in places, particularly in the area of Lucas three areas. and Paremoremo creeks.  101 HOBSONVILLE. Opposite Kaiwhanake

The forest cover consists of kauri on Point is a shell bank that attracts a the ridges with puriri and kahikatea variety of waders. In 1981 this area had a dominants on the slopes and in the wintering flock of New Zealand dotterel. gullies. The coastal forest is comprised This is also one of the two major roosts of pohutukawa, kowhai and karaka Appendix B 13

in the Waitemata Harbour for godwit in  105 POLLEN AND TRAHERNE ISLANDS. the summer and for South Island pied These low-lying islands with extensive oystercatcher in the winter. The area has shell banks, mangroves and salt marshes no public access except by boat. New comprise an important wildlife area Zealand dotterel have nested here but not in the Waitemata Harbour. While the successfully. shell banks at the northern end of Pollen  102 TE ATATU NORTH. At the tip of the Island are lower than they have been, shell mangrove area is a series of small shell banks have developed 50m off-shore on banks. These are major roosting areas the harbour side of Pollen Island and are for waders in the Waitemata Harbour, significant roosting areas. Traherne Island particularly godwit. New Zealand dotterel is also an important roosting area for birds and caspian tern have successfully nested and is the main roost for banded dotterel here in recent years. and wrybill in the Waitemata Harbour.  103 SOLDIERS BAY, with its sand flats, New Zealand dotterel and fernbird nest mangroves, shell bank, saltmarsh and in the area. The fernbird colony which bulrush swamp, has great potential for survives represents an extremely valuable wildlife, recreational and educational avian resource. This species is now rare in purposes. Pied stilt, white-faced heron, the Auckland area. The tidal mud barrier kingfisher, gulls, white-fronted tern, on the southern side has probably been caspian tern and, occasionally, gannet can very important in preventing access of be seen in the area. predators and deterring access by people. The south end of Pollen Island is the  104 TE ATATU – WHAU RIVER. On only known locality in New Zealand of the east side of the Te Atatu peninsula the minute ant, Mayriella abstinens; it is south of Harbour View Road there are also the type of locality for a new species extensive, clean, high-tidal sandflats, of psyllid, Anomalopsylle which is less healthy mangroves, a prominent shell than 1mm long. Limiting public access bank and a high-tidal salt marsh along the is essential to the preservation of this shoreline. Such a combination is unusual to important wildlife area. The Pollen Island find in the Waitemata Harbour and is one locality is a proposed marine reserve and of the few worthy of wildlife reserve status. is considered to be of national importance. However, the shell banks are deteriorating  due to constant use by motorcycles and few 106 TE TOKAROA (BLACK) REEF is a birds roost here. The off-shore area remains basaltic lava flow, probably from Mt Eden a major feeding ground. Gulls, terns, pied (possibly Mt Albert) which extends into the stilt, white-faced heron and kingfisher are Waitemata Harbour. It provides a range seen in this area. of habitats and flora and fauna "which is unique both within the Waitemata The mangroves and salt marshes in the Harbour and throughout New Zealand" Whau River are also worthy of preservation. (Larcombe 1973, 339). Extensive salt An extensive and ecologically healthy area marshes and mangrove communities of mangrove and salt marshes can be found associated with the reef enhance the great in the Henderson Creek. This area is readily educational value of this area. accessible and contains good examples of  107 TANK FARM is a former freshwater crater the natural communities for educational lake formed by explosive eruptions and purposes. surrounded by steep tuff rings. With rising Kingfisher, pied stilt, white-faced heron, sea level this crater has been breeched by red-billed gull, black-backed gull, pied the sea, and provides sheltered intertidal shag, black shag, welcome swallow, and mangrove and salt marsh communities pukeko are among the birds seen in the important as fish and bird habitats. Tank area. Farm is of regional significance. 14 Appendix B

 108 LAKE PUPUKE is also formed in a and pukeko. The native pigeon can also volcanic explosion crater which has been be seen in the area. preserved by its tuff sides. The nearly  114 ORAKEI BASIN is a phreatic explosion circular freshwater lake has a surface area crater which formed a freshwater crater of 100 ha and is over 50m deep in the lake (maar) which has been breached to centre. The lake is enriched but supports form a tidal mudflat. Subsequently the a variety of fish and bird life including pied basin has been closed off by the railway shag, ducks, black swan, pukeko, white- embankment and the water level and faced heron, Canadian geese (all of which flushing of the basin is now controlled. breed on the lake), tui, fantail, silvereye, Little shags, pied shags, and little black and grey warbler. shags nest around the basin. This volcanic  109 SHOAL BAY, north of a line east of the features is considered to be of national Northcote motorway interchange, is an importance. important feeding and roosting area.  115 PUREWA VALLEY contains remnants Caspian tern, New Zealand dotterel, pied of coastal forest and one of the finest stilt, white-faced heron, pukeko, kingfisher examples of mangrove forest in the and gulls can be seen in the area. There Auckland area with some trees up to 4m are only two significant roosting areas in height. Several patches of eelgrass, remaining in the bay – a shell bank on now a rather uncommon species in the the Takapuna side, and another on the Waitemata Harbour since its devastation motorway side. The latter is the only by disease in the 1950s, are found on the roosting area used by the New Zealand tidal flats. There are some old kanuka, dotterel between Traherne Island and cabbage trees, kowhai and pohutukawa. Browns Island and is a nesting area for The forest on the steep northern valley the New Zealand dotterel, caspian tern side has a valuable and instructive botany, and pied stilt. These shell banks deserve zoology and geology. ACC and local protection not only in their own right groups have undertaken the protection and for their ornithological value but and enhancement of this area. Birds of also because of the protection they afford the area include mallard ducks, pied stilts, coastal margins, salt marsh and mangrove kingfishers, blue reef herons, grey warblers, communities. The Wairau and Milford tui and pukeko. catchments drained through the Shoal Bay  118 to 131 valley before the Pupuke eruptions blocked VOLCANIC LANDFORMS OF THE the valley. AUCKLAND AREA. The Auckland  110 MOUNT VICTORIA (TAKARUNGA) volcanic field is notable because of the very is a steep scoria cone, the largest north of large number of individual volcanoes set in the harbour with a summit crater breeched so small an area, and for the small size of towards the south east from whence lava the individual volcanoes. Volcanic activity flowed into the Waitemata valley. was thought to be restricted to the last  111 NORTH HEAD (TAKAPUNA). This 60,000 years of geological history. Recently notable landmark at the entrance to other methods of dating indicate that the Auckland Harbour has been considerably oldest eruptions may have occurred up to eroded by the sea and in the recent past 150,000 years ago. Only a few sites such as (5000 years ago) has been an island. The Albert Park, Symonds Street and perhaps lower part of the mount is composed of Pupuke are older than 50,000 years; others tuff beneath the central scoria cone from such as Albert, Roskill, Three Kings, which a small lava field flowed. Panmure, Taylors, Victoria, North Head,  113 BIRDS OF HOBSON BAY include white- Hobson, St John, and Pukaki probably fronted terns, gulls, kingfishers, white- date from the period 20,000 – 50,000 faced herons, pied stilts, mallard ducks B.P.; while Eden, Wellington, One Tree Appendix B 15

Hill, Smart, Mangere, Green Hill, Wiri later eruptions. Two large breached craters and Browns Island are less than 20,000 in the north and west were the sources of years old. Only Rangitoto Island has been vigorous lava flows and resulted in the active in historic times. Searle (1964), and spectacular amphitheatres of One Tree Searle and Davidson (1975) give details of Hill. One Tree Hill is considered to be of volcanic activity in the Region. Short notes national importance. on individual features are given below.  122 MOUNT EDEN (Maungawhau). A Many of the features identified as complicated scoria cone structure with contributing to the regional significance of three main craters in a row, giving an Auckland's volcanic landforms have been oval shape. Basaltic lavas flowed in all damaged by infill, drainage, quarrying or directions filling valleys and depressions other development. However the remnants and causing massive landscape changes. may retain high scientific value as partial Lava flows towards Khyber Pass and or exposed records of geological activities. Newmarket piled up to form a thick In these cases protection is sought for those pedestal to the mountain, which is today remaining values which are not within exposed in the quarries below Auckland operative quarry zones or where quarrying Grammar School. Mt Eden is considered is an existing or approved use. to be of national importance.  118 MOUNT ALBERT (Owairaka). "Poor,  123 MOUNT ST JOHN (Te Kopuke). A simple pathetic, decapitated Albert – what can scoria cone formed on associated lava be said of its mutilated torso other than it flows, with a typical saucer-shaped crater was once a beautiful scoria cone" (Searle formed by the deposition of scoria around and Davidson 1975). Lava flows from it, the vent, and not from an explosive blast. streamed mainly to the north to reach the  124 MOUNT HOBSON (Remuwera). A small present coast near the Oakley interchange, scoria mound with a minor ash-covered and at Meola Creek. lava flow, probably the last member of  119 MOUNT ROSKILL (Puketapapa) a small the Eden cluster to erupt. An armchair- but complex scoria cone; small lava flows shaped scoria mound formed from fire- extended south and east to the Oakley fountaining in the north, while lava flowed Creek. to the south over swampy land towards the  120 THREE KINGS (Te Tatua a Riukiuta). present day railway. Now almost completely quarried away,  125 AUCKLAND DOMAIN is one of the Three Kings area provided a miniature Auckland's oldest volcanic sites. The but complete collection of volcanic sports grounds occupy the explosion structures – scoria cones, tuff cones, and crater, while the museum and hospital craters; explosion pits, horseshoe rings stand on portions of the tuff ring. A small and breached craters; dykes and flows, scoria cone, Pukekaroa, forms a knoll tuff, scoria and lapilli beds. There is also behind the Winter Gardens within the an extensive 200 m cave system with main crater (castle-and-moat). There are individual chambers up to 10 m wide. The number of small lava vents and a further primary heritage feature of value is the scoria cone remnant at Outhwaite Park. remaining cone which is a reserve, and the The volcanic features of the Domain are quarried face of the tuff ring. considered to be of national importance.  121 ONE TREE HILL (Maungakiekie). One  126 MOUNT WELLINGTON (Maungarei). of the largest of all the volcanoes in the The most recent site of mainland activity Auckland volcanic field. The summit (about 9000 years ago). Scoria and lava peak of the scoria mound overhangs a deposits overlie tuff deposits from early small elliptical crater and appears to be a eruptions. Lava flows streamed from remnant of a larger structure destroyed in various points to Penrose and thence 16 Appendix B

to the Manukau Harbour. While the off shore in the oxidation ponds and in entire Mt Wellington volcanic complex the Manukau Harbour are being kept clear is of geological interest, much of the lava of vegetation to provide more roosting flow has been modified by urban and space in an attempt to keep the birds away industrial development, and consequently from the airport. The foreshore area is the primary heritage value is the remaining considered to be of national importance. scoria cone which is reserved. Mt  135 PUKETUTU ISLAND is a volcanic island Wellington is considered to be of national joined to the mainland by a causeway. importance. Early explosive eruptions formed a large  127 PANMURE BASIN. A tidal maar formed crater and widespread tuff ring. In by a phreatic eruption resulting from the the centre of the island was a cluster of contact of magma with ground-water. The coalescing cones piled upon one another, basin is a nesting area for the pied shag and but reaching only 70m above sea level. white-faced heron. The volcanic feature Lava flows filled the moat between the of Panmure Basin is considered to be of cone and tuff ring. A small lava field was national importance. built and now surrounds the island except  128 MOUNT RICHMOND (Otahuhu). A where wedges of tuff separate flows. The vast 'castle-and-moat' volcano in which main areas on the island of value in terms the scoria mount 'castle', composed of a of geological heritage are the remaining coalescing cluster of cones and craters of volcanic cones, undisturbed areas of tuff small size but considerable complexity, lies ring, the unmodified lava flow surfaces against one wall of the tuff moat. and the intertidal lava reefs which extend into the sea on the western side of the  131 ONEHUNGA SPRINGS tap groundwater island. These intertidal lava reefs are from below One Tree Hill lava flows. Three also of value for coastal bird species and springs are known, located in Bycroft and for their association with small saline Grotto streets and Captain Springs Road. wetlands. Bird species which utilise  134 MANUKAU FORESHORE. The foreshore the island include stilt, oyster catcher, and shoreline area from Mangere Bridge spoonbill, dotterel and wrybill. In the westward along Kiwi Esplanade is an rehabilitation of the quarried areas of the important roosting area for seabirds and island, consideration of returning surfaces wading birds. The western part of this land so that they resemble their original contour is now reserved as Ambury Regional Park. is recommended.

The coastline to the west is an important  138 MANGERE LAGOON is a sea invaded bird habitat, being a particularly rich maar with a tiny scoria cone, now feeding ground and roosting area. Over surrounded by sludge lagoons associated the last 30 years, 86 species have been with the Mangere Waste Water Treatment sighted in the area, many of which are Plant. overseas migrants. Species which breed  139 MANGERE MOUNTAIN erupted about here include the white-faced heron, 18,000 years ago. A huge scoria mound has banded rail, shoveler duck, pied stilt and filled the explosion crater from a number welcome swallow. The feeding grounds of central vents. Lava escaped from the are also used by waders such as the South crater through a breach in the east and the Island pied oystercatcher, wrybill, banded adjacent breached crater (playing field). dotterel, godwit, knot, turnstone, and A small lava dome in the main crater golden plover. Dabchicks, paradise ducks, may be a 'tholoid' extruded from a vent white herons, little egrets, royal spoonbills, beneath. Ash covered lava surrounds the black-fronted and New Zealand dotterels mound extending northwards to form the are seen occasionally. Rare visitors include Manukau Harbour foreshore. Mangere the black-fronted tern, black stilt and Mountain is considered to be of national black-billed gull. Two small islands just importance. Appendix B 17

 142 BURIED FOREST. When Maungataketake  146 CRATER HILL east of Pukaki is larger erupted about 29,000 years ago, the tuff and less regular, the tuff ring having been buried an extensive area of surrounding destroyed by subsequent eruptions to the forest. A well-preserved sample of this north east as far as the present railway ancient vegetation has been exhumed by line at Papatoetoe. The inner slopes of the sea at Ihumatao and lies exposed on the tuff ring have also been eroded back the wide tidal flats which are littered with by a freshwater and at times swampy the remains of forest trees. Some fallen lake. These processes make it unique trunks are more than 20m long and show in the Auckland field and protection, at no sign of branching at that height, while least in part, is therefore warranted. A other stumps are up to 4m diameter. Today strip section down the inside of the crater the preserved timber of the trees looks not showing the processes of construction unlike that of modern drift logs on a beach. would be appropriate. The area has been The Ihumatao buried forest is considered exploited as a source of peat, the eastern to be of national importance. side modified by a road and parts of the  143 THE WIROA ISLAND artificial roost area have been quarried. Crater Hill is is currently a major wrybill roost in the considered to be of national importance. harbour and is widely used by other  147 MOUNT ROBERTSON (Sturges Park). birds including gulls. The roost has been A wide explosion crater with a gently constructed to attract birds away from the sloping tuff ring was the first structure airport approaches and thus reduce the built and constituted the major unit of the collision hazard. volcano. Part of the Otahuhu commercial  144 PUHINUI CREEK area is comprised of a area is built on one edge of this ring. As variety of habitats including extensive shell explosions ceased, lava rose in the vent banks, intertidal mudflats, mangroves and and a very short spasm of splashing and extensive shoreline salt marsh. Thousands spouting created a low cone in the centre of international migratory birds and New of the crater forming a castle-in-moat Zealand endemic waders feed on the structure, which today provides an ideal mudflats and use the shellbanks as a high setting for sports fields. The remaining tide roost. Banded rails, and fernbirds volcanic features are considered to be of inhabit the saltmarsh. Part of the area is a national importance. wildlife refuge. The water quality of the  150 WIRI LAVA CAVE which is 280m in Puhinui Stream should be maintained and length is unique as it is the only Auckland adverse effects on valued natural heritage example embodying several features in features from activities on adjoining land their most perfect form. These are smooth, and in the coastal marine area should be gas-flazed rock surfaces, lava stalactites, avoided. circular tube gas vents, ridging on the floors and contraction gaps at the base  145 PUKAKI LAGOON is a simple circular of walls. The cave is considered to be of explosion crater with a tuff ring breached international importance. on the seaward side by a narrow channel. The crater was formed during a single burst  160 THE TAMAKI ESTUARY is a regionally of activity which piled up a tuff cone on top important wildlife habitat. It is a large of a low flat area. The crater became tidal river estuary where considerable areas of when the sea level rose to become filled intertidal flats have accumulated and a with mud, but has recently been drained. sand-shell spit (Tahuna-Torea, see below) This landform has been only slightly has built up near the entrance. There are damaged and it is an excellent example a number of other roosting sites (notably of a circular explosion crater. The crater, Pakuranga Creek Roost and the Tamaki virtually unspoiled by urban development, RIver East Roost), which are used by is a splendid natural amphitheatre. hundreds of wading birds which feed in the estuary. Intertidal banks (such as the 18 Appendix B

Tamaki East Bank) contain extensive beds and kingfisher along with numerous of shellfish and are important feeding introduced species can be heard if not seen grounds for these birds. while walking along the spit. The pipit  There are also a number of geological visits in the winter, the shining cuckoo in features of note along the banks of the the spring. estuary. At one point is a small geological  Along the sandspit there are several patches exposure of rhyolitic co-ignimbritic of the native shore convolvulus (Calystegia accretionary lapilli from the Taupo soldanella), and springy mattress-like native Volcanic Zone, which is exposed as a thin pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia complexa), and bed near the base of an eroded low sea the ribbonwood (Plagianthus divaricatus). cliff. The site is considered to be nationally The salt marsh at Tahuna-Torea is found important. The Waiouru Tuff Mound has on the seaward margins of mangrove an indistinct, crater-like depression about communities and is essentially unmodified, 300m in diameter. The crater is breached consisting of glasswort (Sarcocornia to the SW by tidal creeks and has an 8m quinqueflora), salt-meadow primula terrace along the Tamaki River. It is one (Samolus repens), starry-flowered Selliera of the oldest members of the Auckland radicans, sea rush (Juncus maritimus) and volcanic field, and is considered to be the jointed rush (Leptocarpus simplex). regionally important. Impounded within the brackish pond of  160a TAHUNA-TOREA (GLENDOWIE the estuary are a series of low-lying banks SANDSPIT). 'The gathering place of the stabilised with rushes which are believed to oystercatcher.’ A large stable depositional be pre-European fish traps. These unique feature probably dating back to the features deserve protection from siltation Pleistocene, it is in dynamic equilibrium flooding and vegetation change. (in its natural state) with subtle changes  161 MANGEMANGEROA, TURANGA AND occurring in response to wind, wave WAIKOPUA are tidal creeks flowing and tidal action. Recent excavation and into one large bay, which has a complex dumping at the proximal end may change of intertidal mud, sand and shell banks. this balance. The intertidal banks are a very rich   The estuarine area behind the spit feeding ground and important mid-tide has been dammed and developed by the roost for many hundreds of a variety of Tamaki Estuary Protection Society, as a international migratory and New Zealand brackish pond for feeding and roosting endemic wading birds, including a number birds. A freshwater wetland has also of threatened species. Large shellbanks at been developed as a breeding and feeding various locations at creek mouths, behind area. The area provides an interesting the beach, or near Motukaraka Island are complex of marine, intertidal, freshwater or have been used as high tide roosts by and terrestrial habitats for a wide range these birds and a variety of other coastal of birds. It has added value because of its bird species. proximity to, and ready access for, a large In the shelter of the shellbanks and the number of people. creeks grow areas of mangroves and Birds which frequent the area include the saltmarsh, some of it judged to be the best South Island pied oystercatcher, pied stilt, in the Hunua ecological district. There godwit, knot, turnstone, golden plover, are two major gradations from saline banded dotterel, New Zealand dotterel, vegetation into terrestrial vegetation. One wrybill, black-backed gulls, red-billed is from mangroves into the coastal ponga gulls, caspian terns, pied shags and little and taraire and kowhai forests. The second shags; white-faced heron and blue reef grades from mangroves into saltmarsh heron also feed on the tidal flats. into coastal shrublands on islands in the The grey warbler, fantail, silvereye, Turanga Creek. The saline vegetation Appendix B 19

fringing the creeks provides high quality  167 RANGITOTO ISLAND is of international habitat for threatened secretive coastal significance as a volcanic landform because fringe birds, particularly where it abuts each stage, from the initial colonisation of terrestrial vegetation, which provides raw basalt and scoria to the formation of shelter for the birds at high tide and scrub to immature forest, can be seen. It potential nesting sites. is the youngest and largest of the Auckland  163 CLEVEDON-MARAETAI HILLS. A volcanoes having been active at least within large stand of native forest is found in this the last 400 years. The greater part of the area. The pre-European vegetation cover island is a low dome built up by successions probably consisted of two major forest of basaltic lava flows, surmounted by a community types: kauri-hard beech and cluster of scoria mounds and cones, the podocarp-broadleaf. Over the last 100 last built of which has a deep central crater. years the area has been burned and logged. The lava field contains no soil in the usual Today kauri is dominant in many parts sense of the word, although rich, fine, dark and regeneration is good. Many seedling powder is accumulating in the fissures. species can be found such as tanekaha, Yet, more than 200 species of native ferns rewarewa, kohekohe, taraire, rimu, miro, and flowering plants grow on the island. and totara. Over 100 native vascular plants Dominant among the trees is pohutukawa; are found in the area. The chief botanical kohekohe, mangeao, puriri, rewarewa, value lies in the large amount of hard rata, puka, five-finger and manuka are also beech (Nothofagus truncata) contained found. There are knee-deep growths of both in more or less pure stands and kidney fern and nearly a score of orchids. mixed with kauri. The kauri-beech forest There are many mosses and lichens and, type is nationally rare and considerable in winter and spring, a blue-green algae. regeneration which has occurred over  Birds found on the island include fantail, the last 100 years, with growth rates hawk, silvereye, grey warbler, blue reef comparable to those kauri on the same heron, caspian tern, kingfisher, pipit, site, seem likely to ensure the persistence white-faced heron and nests of the little of the kauri-hard beech forest in the area. blue penguin. There are a number of There is a varied and abundant native insect breeding colonies of black-backed gull and bird life. scattered in the bare lava. Black-backed  165 MOTUKOREA (BROWNS ISLAND) is gulls obtain only a small proportion of the relic of a much larger structure created their food from traditional feeding areas when sea levels were low and the harbour on tidal flats. In the past, over 10,000 gulls dry land. Remnants of a very large tuff migrated daily from Rangitoto to feed on cone are preserved in the north eastern rubbish tips throughout the urban area. ridge and cliffs. However, the improvement of rubbish disposal techniques in Auckland has The scoria mound is a complex of coalescing resulted in a reduction in the number of cones, while the associated lava field is black-backed gulls on the island. now beneath the sea. The New Zealand

dotterel breeds here. Two or three pairs of This island which is part of the Hauraki black-backed gulls nest on the island. Reef Gulf Maritime Park is close to the mainland herons and variable oystercatchers have and readily accessible by many who live been sighted. The island is administered there. It provides sheltered anchorage, by the Department of Conservation, and swimming, fishing, walking, bird watching the volcanic features are considered to be and opportunities for general nature study. of international importance. Rangitoto Island is a conspicuous and important landmark which is visible from many parts of the Region and contributes much to Auckland's natural setting. 20 Appendix B

 169 HAURAKI GULF and ISLANDS. The the low-lying islands. The saline vegetation combination of warm climate, sheltered grades into the freshwater raupo wetland waters and numerous islands of the and kauri-tanekaha forest in the best Hauraki Gulf makes it a unique marine such sequence on the island. The saline recreational area and one of the most vegetation and associated freshwater important amenities of the Auckland vegetation provide high quality habitat Region. Many of the smaller islands and for threatened swamp birds and secretive the remote or inaccessible parts of the coastal fringe birds particularly where the large islands play an important part in wetlands abut terrestrial vegetation which the preservation of native flora and fauna, provides shelter for the birds at high tide and as such deserve protection. One of the and potential nesting sites. This area is most attractive features of the gulf islands considered to be of national importance. is the cleanliness and clarity of their  187 AWAAWAROA BAY is an estuarine area surrounding waters. The quality of the on the sheltered southern side of Waiheke gulf’s waters has enhanced their value for Island. There are extensive intertidal areas aquatic sports such as swimming, diving, which are a feeding ground for a relatively fishing and boating. It has also fostered large number of a variety of wading bird the rich marine life which supports the species. These birds roost on the associated gulf’s sea birds. Pipi, cockles and tuatua shellbanks at high tide, along with a range are still plentiful in the gulf; mussels and of coastal birds which feed in the waters of rock oysters have been greatly reduced the area. In the shelter of the upper reaches in number due to over exploitation. It of the estuary there are substantial areas is important that the water quality of the of mangroves and saltmarsh. The saline Hauraki Gulf is protected. vegetation grades into the best freshwater The wide range of values of the Hauraki raupo wetland on the island. Gulf and islands – ecological, scenic,  188 FRENCHMANS CAP is a nesting site of recreational, cultural, spiritual, historical the blue reef heron which is threatened and economic – make it of regional and by competition with the more aggressive national importance. white-faced herons, an immigrant from  186 TE MATUKU BAY is an estuarine area Australia about 30 years ago. Black-backed on the sheltered southern side of Waiheke gulls, white-fronted terns and a pair of Island. The extensive intertidal flats, shell caspian terns are also known to breed banks, and low-lying islands offer a variety here. This important habitat deserves to of habitats for a range of plant and animal be protected. communities. The extensive intertidal  191 PONUI ISLAND is a large privately owned areas are a rich feeding ground for large island which has been farmed for many numbers of international migratory years. It is an attractive combination and New Zealand endemic wading of pasture, native forest and unspoilt birds, including substantial numbers coastline with sheltered bays. There are of a considerable variety of threatened dense stands of young kauri with some species. These birds roost on the shell tanekaha, and in the valleys taraire, tawa spit in the outer reaches of the bay at and kohekohe are regenerating. high tide, along with a variety of other Spotted shags and white-fronted terns roost coastal birds which feed in the waters of north of Bryants Bay in the north east of the bay. In the shelter of the upper reaches Ponui. of the estuary there are extensive areas Around the headlands in the north west the of mangroves and saltmarsh growing in pied shag, little shag and blue reef heron association with terrestrial vegetation on Appendix B 21

are frequent visitors. Other birds found and Miranda; remnants of coastal forest on the island include the pigeon, tui, kaka, are occasionally encountered, with species North Island brown kiwi, spotless crake, of rewarewa, tanekaha, kauri, puriri and bittern and pukeko. The island is a wildlife taraire. refuge.  Commonly observed bird species in the  201 The FIRTH OF THAMES, extending south Firth of Thames include the South Island from the Hauraki Gulf to the Hauraki pied oystercatcher, variable oystercatcher, Plains, is one of the three areas in the New Zealand dotterel, wrybill, godwit, Auckland Region which is of national and knot, turnstone, red-necked stint, black- international ornithological significance, backed gull, red-billed gull, caspian tern, attracting tens of thousands of birds each white-fronted tern, curlew sandpiper, year from the South Island and from the arctic skua, black shag, mallard duck, arctic and subarctic regions. The east and white-faced heron, banded dotterel, west coasts of the Firth of Thames are very welcome swallow and pied stilt. Less different: in the east the shore is steep and common species are the black swan, grey rocky; to the south and west the water is teal, shoveller, banded rail, black stilt, little shallow and at low tide broad intertidal tern, bittern, mongolian dotterel, large flats and many square miles of eutrophic sand dotterel, oriental dotterel, Asiatic ooze are exposed. The stretch of coast from whimbrel, Asiatic black-tailed godwit, Kaiaua to Miranda offers ideal conditions terek sandpiper, pectoral sandpiper, broad- particularly for the wading birds. The shell billed sandpiper, white-winged black tern, banks which have built up over centuries white heron, royal spoonbill, grey plover, are crowded with birds each day when tides little whimbrel and marsh sandpiper. are high. The Taramaire and Miranda The study and protection of the birds of the shell banks are extremely popular roosting area is the prime interest of the members grounds for birds feeding on the extensive of the Miranda Naturalist Trust which was tidal flats and in the swampy paddocks: formed in 1975. The trust has built bird knots, wrybills, oystercatchers, godwits, observatories near Miranda Stream and pied stilts, red-billed gulls, black-backed the Taramaire Stream reserve. This trust gulls, white-fronted terns, caspian terns, also fosters the study of the vegetation, turnstones, New Zealand dotterels, and geology, marine ecology, zoology and black shags. archaeology of the area. There are also extensive salt marshes  205 MATAITAI STATE FOREST is important and associated lagoons which form a as an example of the nationally rare kauri- vital part of the wading bird's habitat by hard beech association. Tawa forms providing shelter and food for many. Such the bulk of the canopy with scattered areas should be protected from drainage, kauri, hard beech and tanekaha found siltation and rubbish disposal. The short throughout. Rimu and miro occur grass of the farm paddocks bordering the spasmodically. In other areas of the forest area is favoured by the banded dotterel the canopy consists of manuka with groups and the New Zealand dotterel. The swamp of emergent kauri, tanekaha and hard areas also attract mallard ducks, pied stilts beech. and herons. Approximately 50% of the This land is administered by the Department bird species along the coast have increased of Conservation. in numbers since 1950; the remaining  species have stayed nearly constant. 206 The HUNUA RANGES are a deeply dissected, upfaulted block of Jurassic  Coastal indigenous scrub and cliff siltstone, sandstone, and argillite of vegetation, pohutukawa, puriri, karaka and the Waiheke group (greywacke). The kowhai can be found between Matingarahi ranges are bounded on the west by the 22 Appendix B

Wairoa fault and the east by the Hauraki the three species and most widely spread. graben. To the south, the Mangatangi Subdominants include rewarewa, hinau, fault divides the ranges from the lower towai and Cyathea dealbata. Waikato basin and in the north the block Taraire, with associated puriri and is partly truncated by the Clevedon splint rewarewa, forms an almost continuous fault. Mount Kohukohunui (688m) is the canopy over limited areas, mainly in highest point in the ranges. These elevated, the north and usually on warmer areas forest covered hills provide an important of easier topography; kohekohe with catchment area for Auckland's urban water nikau and Cyathea dealbata form the supply. The reservoirs are now wildlife understorey with a sparse ground cover habitats, with the Upper Managatwhiri and notably little taraire regeneration. Reservoir of regional significance for its The montane scrub forest is characterised wildlife. Notable species using the lake by species not seen below 610m: hutu, toi, and its margins include ducks, white-faced horopito and a large number of epiphytes; heron, black shag, little shag and bittern. other species, notably Hebe macrocarpa, The reservoirs also support native fish such raukawa, Blechnum discolor, wheki and as koaro, banded kokopu, long and short pepperwood, appear to be more abundant finned eels, as well as rainbow trout. here than at low altitudes.  The Hunua Falls, a waterfall with a 30 m  The threatened endemic frog Leiopelma( drop, cascades over a basalt plug which hochstetteri), the green gecko (Naultinus has intruded through the Wairoa fault. It elegans) and a large variety of native land is considered to be regionally significant. snails are some of the animals found here.  207 INDIGENOUS FOREST OF THE HUNUA Both the rare short-tailed bat (Mystacina RANGES covers 20,000 hectares much tuberculata) and the long-tailed bat of which is protected as a regional park (Chalinolobus tuberculatus) have been considered of national and international sighted in the past, however no recent importance. The major indigenous forest sightings have been made. These two types are tawa-podocarp, kauri-hard species of bat are the only native land beech-tanekaha, and taraire, with localised mammals in New Zealand. The area of areas of coastal and montane scrub forest distribution of these animals is very much (Barton, 1972). less than it was 100 years ago, mainly due Tawa-podocarp forest occupies a wide range to loss of habitat. of sites totalling 75% of the entire forest  A number of threatened and uncommon area; the principal species is tawa with plants are known from the Hunua Ranges, scattered emergent rimu, northern rata, such as king fern, Marattia salicina which kahikatea, totara and miro. Associated now has the IUCN status of Vulnerable. understorey species include rewarewa, A small remnant colony of the regionally hinau and pukatea, with kohekohe, rare mountain cabbage tree (Cordyline usually with nikau and ponga becoming indivisa) was found near the summit subdominant in drier areas. Kauri-hard of Kohukohunui. The communities of beech-tanekaha forest species, in varying montane scrub and kauri-hard beech combinations, are dominant on the most of forests are uncommon occurrences the ridge tops and drier land below 240m; within the Region. A number of plants hard beech tends to favour the cooler found in the Hunuas are at or near their southern slopes, kauri the drier ridge tops geographical limit, including: Blechnum and northern slopes, and tanekaha the colensoi, Pseudowintera colorata and more moist sites, being the most tolerant of Ascarina lucida. Appendix B 23

 The diverse forest types of the ranges number of both individuals (up to 50,000 provide important habitats for a number birds at one time) and the variety of of bird species, especially pigeon, tui, bird species which traditionally use the grey warbler, fantail, silvereye, kingfisher, harbour, the natural values of the Harbour morepork, pipit, shining cuckoo, and are considered to be of international harrier. Kaka and long-tailed cuckoo significance. There is some evidence to are frequent visitors. The regionally rare suggest that the Manukau Harbour may tomtit is present in fluctuating numbers be a major gathering place of migrants (which upsurged from 1971-1978) and the in the Auckland area prior to departure bellbird which was reduced in number and to the Northern Hemisphere. Regular is now believed to be spreading (Greene, large-scale movement occurs within the ARC Parks). A small community of the Region between the Manukau and Kaipara endangered kokako remain in the ranges, harbours and the Firth of Thames and is considered to be the largest viable  216 Waders of the Manukau include the godwit, mainland population in the Auckland and knot, turnstone, golden plover and other Northland regions. northern hemisphere migrants as well as  The regeneration of the dominant species the spoonbills from Australia. The variable in the Hunua Ranges has in the past been oystercatcher, NZ and banded dotterel, considered inadequate, mainly because wrybill (which are threatened), the black of the high level of noxious animal stilt (which is endangered) and the South infestation during the past 100 years, Island pied oystercatcher are migrants from which has only recently been reduced. within New Zealand. In order to maintain Other contributing factors may be the the wader population, it is believed that depleted bird populations which adversely preservation of major roosting areas is one affect seed dispersal, and the suspected of the most important factors (food supply high rat population resulting in seed appears to be adequate). Important wader destruction, especially of podocarps. Now roosting areas on the south Manukau that control work is underway, it is believed harbour include the shell banks and that regeneration trends will improve. adjoining pasture at Karaka (Kidd's  214 KIRK'S BUSH in Papakura. Impressive Farm), Seagrove, Waipipi, Puhinui and remnants of the now rare taraire dominated Pollok Spit. At present there is no reserved forest. The interior is of cathedral- land for birds on the south coast of the like splendour. Nearby in the smaller Manukau harbour and some measures are Butterworth's Bush are probably the most required to protect these areas as suitable magnificent taraire in the south Auckland roosts for birdlife. If public land access area. is to be provided to any of these areas, it should be planned so as to least disturb 216 to 219 the features that provide the special

THE NATURAL VALUES OF THE interest. Protection of the intertidal sand MANUKAU HARBOUR and mud banks is also essential for the THE MANUKAU HARBOUR is the maintenance of the birdlife in the harbour. second largest estuarine area on the west Of significance in this respect are Te Tau coast of the North Island and has a great Bank East, which contains large numbers expanse of intertidal areas, providing of shellfish, both edible and uncommon one of the most important habitats in within the harbour, Karore off Ihumatao New Zealand for wading birds including as well as those associated with the large migratory species. Because of the large roosting areas. 24 Appendix B

 217 Wetlands (mangroves, salt marshes Seagrove (219) (Henriques, 1978). These and eelgrass flats) at present cover less eelgrass beds have begun to reappear than 5% of the intertidal area of the in the Seagrove area. Marine wetlands Manukau Harbour. Areas of particular are particularly vulnerable ecosystems importance include:- Pahurehure inlet because the water discharge within them (217), notably Drury Creek, Whangamaire is only partial during each tidal cycle and Stream, and Whangapouri Creeks; Taihiki wastes readily accumulate. The remaining River; Little and Big Muddy Creeks; the wetlands of the Manukau Harbour need coastline around Awhitu Regional Park; and warrant complete protection since and Ann’s Creek all of which contain a they are indispensable to the estuarine large percentage of the wetlands in the biota and foreshore protection. harbour.  224 BIRDS OF AWHITU LAKES. The Awhitu  Drury Creek is comprised of a variety of intertidal peninsula, largely in pasture, has a series habitats ranging from sandy mud intertidal of lakes similar to those of the Kaipara flats to current-exposed rocky reefs and a south peninsula, supporting a diversity variety of saline vegetation. Healthy and of wildlife including fernbirds, bitterns, often expanding areas of mangroves grow banded rails, dabchicks, pukeko, black in the shelter of the Pahurehure Inlet, swans, shags and ducks. Spotless crakes Whangamaire Stream, and Drury and are found in the raupo swamps around Whangapouri Creeks and in the southern Awhitu and to the north of Waiuku Forest. half of the Whangapouri Creek are notable  245 MIRANDA CHENIER PLAIN. eelgrass (Zostera) beds. Within the Constructional and erosional morphologies upper tidal reaches of Drury Creek there of beach ridges and intertidal flats of the are a variety of marshes, grading from chenier plain (i.e., a beach ridge plain mangroves through to extensive areas perched on a muddy substratum), Firth of jointed rush-dominated saltmarsh, of Thames (Miranda to Whakatiwai), have to freshwater vegetation in response enabled the determination of a sequence of to salinity changes. This same area is past sea levels; radiocarbon dating of shell a migration pathway between marine samples give a time/sea level curve which and freshwater habitats for a number of correlates favourably with transgressional different species of native freshwater fishes. periods recorded in Europe. The present  218 Also significant with respect to the diversity rise in sea level is locally 20-23 cm per of life found in the harbour are the marine century, and may be a minor fluctuation communities. Of particular note is the in an otherwise stable sea (Schofield, 1960). area west of Mako Point which is subjected The area is considered to be of national to strong, cool lateral currents similar to importance. those at Omanawanui on the opposite side of the harbour mouth. Consequently, this stretch of coast supports a diverse and rich marine fauna which shows open coast, harbour and southern affinities. The south head contrasts with the north because of the softer rocks and platform reefs which mean that the biota differs and is less diverse and abundant.  219 Extensive beds of Zostera (eelgrass) were once found on the south Manukau intertidal flats between Clarks Beach and