Sundew

, found here at sea level. sea at here found , zealandia

Ramsar sites are of international importance. international of wetlands are sites Ramsar

1 Donatia novae- Donatia plant, cushion the like

www.nationalwetlandtrust.org.nz www.nationalwetlandtrust.org.nz coast is the occurrence of alpine species, species, alpine of occurrence the is coast

in Southland. in For other wetlands in Southland that you can visit see see visit can you that Southland in wetlands other For along the cool, blustery southern southern blustery cool, the along bogs

community projects wetland community

wire rush areas. An unusual feature of the the of feature unusual An areas. rush wire

solid turf. solid

See www.sern.org.nz for more more for www.sern.org.nz See

) in the more open open more the in ) Dracophyllum ( inaka with bog, peat the

nd patches of rushes or sedges, creeping plants or or plants creeping sedges, or rushes of patches nd fi you’ll

sundews and bladderworts. Manuka dominates most of of most dominates Manuka bladderworts. and sundews

the wind has eroded sand down to the water table. Here Here table. water the to down sand eroded has wind the

favouring specially adapted plants like insect-eating insect-eating like plants adapted specially favouring

Dune slacks form in hollows between sand dunes where where dunes sand between hollows in form slacks Dune

Domed wetlands are rain fed and so are low in nutrients, nutrients, in low are so and fed rain are wetlands Domed

www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz

of plant matter and forming shallow peat domes. domes. peat shallow forming and matter plant of oodplain. fl Matuara lower the along forest see

[email protected] [email protected] Otatara. at land private on

of the Southland coast. They hold water, slowing decay decay slowing water, hold They coast. Southland the of is a good example of a swamp and you can can you and swamp a of example good a is Manapouri

– and created wetland wetland created and – Nursery Community Southland

plant colonisers in the cold wet conditions along much much along conditions wet cold the in colonisers plant swamp forest remain today. The Redcliff Reserve near near Reserve Redcliff The today. remain forest swamp

Ian & Jenny Gamble, www.fernbirds.co.nz Gamble, Jenny & Ian ) are early early are ) Empodisma ( rush wire and moss Sphagnum the once common swampy gully systems and kahikatea kahikatea and systems gully swampy common once the

Otatara, open to the public by appointment. appointment. by public the to open Otatara,

ed by land development. Only small patches of of patches small Only development. land by ed fi modi

are found in Southland water bodies. water Southland in found are

– a privately owned wetland at at wetland owned privately a – Fernbirds Point Bushy

oodplains have also been extensively extensively been also have oodplains fl and

nned eels eels nned fi short and nned fi long Both pastime. popular a

Gay Munro, Secretary. Ph. (03) 239 5827. 239 (03) Ph. Secretary. Munro, Gay in many of the coastal waterways where whitebaiting is is whitebaiting where waterways coastal the of many in algae and reducing biodiversity. reducing and algae

education and local action. action. local and education giant kokopu, while banded kokopu and inaka are found found are inaka and kokopu banded while kokopu, giant pressure as nutrient levels increase favouring smothering smothering favouring increase levels nutrient as pressure

help protect the Waituna Lagoon through community community through Lagoon Waituna the protect help sh, particularly particularly sh, fi for stronghold a also is wetland The cation has seen come under further further under come estuaries seen has cation fi intensi

– formed in 2001 to to 2001 in formed – (WLG) Group Landcare Waituna species, including common, green and cryptic skinks. skinks. cryptic and green common, including species, lling of the other estuaries. Recent land use use land Recent estuaries. other the of lling fi in to led

The Awarua peatlands are home to several native lizard lizard native several to home are peatlands Awarua The erosion from forest clearance and rabbit damage has has damage rabbit and clearance forest from erosion

Ph. (03) 211 2400 211 (03) Ph.

eet, however, severe severe however, eet, fl shing fi a has still Harbour

DOC. tracks. walking formed with opportunities, occasional sanderling and golden plover. golden and sanderling occasional

opean settlers. Today Riverton Riverton Today settlers. opean Eur early for routes trade

animal and weed pests; and improving recreational recreational improving and pests; weed and animal with abundant godwits, turnstones, red knots and the the and knots red turnstones, godwits, abundant with

and waterfowl for Maori. They were also important important also were They Maori. for waterfowl and

management; increased understanding and control of of control and understanding increased management; Migratory birds visit Awarua Bay from October to April, April, to October from Bay Awarua visit birds Migratory

sh, whitebait whitebait sh, fi shell ounder, fl of source valuable a been

communities in education, and catchment and riparian riparian and catchment and education, in communities secretive and spotless crakes. crakes. spotless and marsh secretive

River at Riverton respectively. These estuaries have long long have estuaries These respectively. Riverton at River

protecting water quality through the involvement of of involvement the through quality water protecting stilts, white-faced heron, and the the and heron, white-faced stilts,

at Fortrose, New River near , and the Jacob Jacob the and Invercargill, near River New Fortrose, at

Awarua Wetlands. At Awarua the focus has been on on been has focus the Awarua At Wetlands. Awarua include the royal spoonbill, pied pied spoonbill, royal the include

ow into extensive estuaries; the Toe Toes Toes Toe the estuaries; extensive into ow fl plains the

cant wetlands including Southland’s Southland’s including wetlands cant fi signi nationally on Waituna Lagoon. Waders Waders Lagoon. Waituna on

The , Oreti and Aparima Rivers that formed formed that Rivers Aparima and Oreti Mataura, The

DOC wetland restoration programme involves three three involves programme restoration wetland DOC Canada geese are regularly seen seen regularly are geese Canada

– initiated in 2007, this 5 year year 5 this 2007, in initiated – Kakariki Arawai and grey teal. Black swan and and swan Black teal. grey and sphagnum moss, wire-rush, fernbirds and bittern. and fernbirds wire-rush, moss, sphagnum

mallard, but also native shoveler shoveler native also but mallard, years ago and are home to highly specialised species like like species specialised highly to home are and ago years

Environment Southland. Ph. (03) 211 5115 211 (03) Ph. Southland. Environment

waterfowl, mostly the introduced introduced the mostly waterfowl, Harbour, they formed after the last ice age, about 10,000 10,000 about age, ice last the after formed they Harbour,

value and presence of wetlands in Southland. Southland. in wetlands of presence and value

Open water areas are inhabited by by inhabited are areas water Open . Stretching from Fortrose to Bluff Bluff to Estuary Fortrose from Stretching Zealand. New

education material and generally raise awareness of the the of awareness raise generally and material education

rst) Ramsar rst) fi (and largest the of part are Wetlands site in in site

1

agency group set up in 2004 to develop wetland policy, policy, wetland develop to 2004 in up set group agency lizards on the Tiwai Peninsula. Tiwai the on lizards

The 15,000 ha peatlands in the Awarua/Waituna Awarua/Waituna the in peatlands ha 15,000 The

– an inter- an – (SWWP) Party Working Wetland Southland sh or hunting for for hunting or sh fi native for streams and swamps the

forests. forests. stalking is territory natural more their although grubs,

Mark Sutton, Ph. 021 540 814 540 021 Ph. Sutton, Mark Catchment. Waiau

ood plains and terrace terrace and plains ood fl slacks, dune lakes, dune lagoons, porina or earthworms out seeking paddocks boggy on

sheries and wildlife values of the the of values wildlife and sheries fi the on Scheme Power

wetland types are also found here: swamps, estuaries, estuaries, swamps, here: found also are types wetland seen be sometimes can They Zealand. New throughout

and remedy the adverse effects of the Manapouri Hydro Hydro Manapouri the of effects adverse the remedy and

) are a major component, although many other other many although component, major a are fens) estimated 750 only with solitary, and secretive are they

– established in 1996 to mitigate mitigate to 1996 in established – Trust Enhancement

favourable for wetland formation. Peatlands (bogs and and (bogs Peatlands formation. wetland for favourable as seen rarely are Bittern together. stones two click you if

The Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat Habitat Wildlife and Fisheries Waiau The

the environment was especially especially was environment Plains Southland the approach may and manuka, or rush jointed of vegetation

oodplains, oodplains, fl extensive and climate coastal predominantly growing low through walk you as tick-ticking heard restoration and protection including: protection and restoration

around 30% of the pre-European extent. With a cool, cool, a With extent. pre-European the of 30% around be can tail, scruffy long a with sparrow a like fernbird, there are a number of groups involved in wetland wetland in involved groups of number a are there

New Zealand, Southland is fortunate to retain retain to fortunate is Southland Zealand, New little The bittern. Australasian and fernbird Island Conservation (DOC) and Environment Southland (ES), (ES), Southland Environment and (DOC) Conservation

As only 10% of original wetlands remain throughout throughout remain wetlands original of 10% only As South threatened the to home are wetlands Southland’s Besides the work of agencies like the Department of of Department the like agencies of work the Besides

Wetlands of the Southland Plains Plains Southland the of Wetlands fauna and Flora Caring for Southland’s wetlands Southland’s for Caring

The National Wetland Trust was established in 1999 to What is a Wetland? increase the appreciation of wetlands and their values by all New Zealanders. National Wetland Trust A wetland is a permanently or seasonally wet area of land that supports plants and animals adapted to living in aquatic or semi-aquatic conditions. They are diverse The Trust aims are to: Trail Guide: ecosystems, with the different types determined • Increase public knowledge and appreciation of Waituna Lagoon, Awarua Peatlands and nesting fernbird (inset). by their water - its amount, depth, permanence, wetland values temperature, chemistry, salinity and source. • Increase understanding of wetland functions and processes New Zealand wetlands include; • Ensure landowners and government agencies • Swamps, bogs and fens commit to wetland protection, enhancement • Lakes, tarns, rivers and streams and restoration • Estuaries and intertidal areas • Geothermal pools • Underground wetlands Other trail guides in this series: • Whangamarino and Lake Waikare, Peatlands (bogs and fens) are ancient wetlands, • Rangitaiki Plains and Ohiwa Harbour, formed over thousands of years in cool, wet climates Bay of Plenty Region by the slow build-up of thick layers of undecayed plant matter in waterlogged, acidic, low-nutrient soils. Available from www.wetlandtrust.org.nz Healthy bogs are important carbon sinks, locking up 2-5 tonnes of carbon per hectare in their soil each year. The National Wetland Trust wishes to thank the Swamps are fertile freshwater wetlands fed by following for their support in producing this brochure: rainwater, surface water run-off and groundwater, often found on the edges of lakes, rivers and , Gay Munro and the Southland Wetlands Working Party and in wet gullies. They may have large areas of open Department of Conservation water, or damp areas with emergent vegetation. Environment Southland Invercargill City Council Estuaries are brackish wetlands subject to regular tidal Waiau Trust infl ux and freshwater from streams that enter them. Many estuaries have been degraded by stock grazing, This trail was produced with the help sediment and nutrient input, and reclamation. of generous grants from: Wetlands are a forgotten habitat and many people Southland Plains under-rate their importance. They have very high recreational values, and perform vital ecosystem services such as improving water quality and reducing fl ood risks. They support a great diversity Contact Us Prepared by the Southland Wetlands of native animals and plants, and are of cultural National Wetland Trust Working Party in association with and spiritual signifi cance to Maori, providing food, PO Box 177 the National Wetland Trust. harakeke (fl ax) for weaving and other materials. Pukekohe 2340 New Zealand Use this guide to explore some of the best remaining wetlands in the Email us at Southland Plains Region. Look for [email protected] the National Wetland Trail sign www.wetlandtrust.org.nz along the route. March 2012 – Printed on recycled paper Southland Plains Wetland Heritage Trail: Route details Route description: This trail is a driving route that takes navigator to direct the driver. Watch for traffi c, as much you to a range of wetland types around the Southland of the trail is along state highways. Keep to boardwalks Plains, including an extensive peatland area with a coastal in the wetlands and take extra care with children around lagoon, two estuaries, a remnant of former swamp forest, open water and busy roads. Take a high resolution photo a restored oxbow system, and a meandering stream. of any maps at track entrances so you can refer to it on the Total driving time is approximately 3 hours, with each walk. Take water and food, sunblock, good walking shoes, leg ranging from 30 to 45 minutes. Total distance is about and raincoats. A local road map will also be helpful. Enjoy 115 km. There are fuel and food stops along the way at your trip. Fortrose, , Invercargill, Riverton, and Manapouri. It is recommended to undertake the full trail Update us: The directions and descriptions in this guide over two days with a night’s stop in Invercargill to ensure are current as of March 2012. Please let us know if our a leisurely explore of these areas. Or you can simply visit guide needs to be updated. any of the wetlands that interest you. Quiz: For added family fun this trail includes a quiz. Safety fi rst: The creators of this trail accept no liability for Look for the answers to the questions at each site. Some your safety on this route, but have designed it to minimise are based on signs or other features that could change. road and traffi c crossings. Use this guide sensibly. Pull off There are no prizes associated with the quiz. the road safely to check route directions, ideally have a See bottom of page for answers.

The Wetland Trail travels the Southern Scenic Route starting at , heading west from Tokanui township (or head east if starting in Invercargill) to your fi rst stop, Fortrose Estuary. Turn off the Tokanui- Highway into Fortrose village along the foreshore.

From the early 1900s, the lagoon has regularly been 1 Fortrose Estuary opened to the sea, initially by spade to improve 6 Rakatu Wetlands trout fi shing and later, by bulldozer and digger, (Toetoes Harbour) to prevent fl ooding of low lying pastoral land. Today, it is also undertaken to maintain the and Redcliff Wildlife Reserve The estuary here is where the lagoon in good health by fl ushing out nutrient- The Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Habitat meets the sea after fl owing 190 km from rich water. Concerns about the health of the Enhancement Trust (Waiau Trust) purchased its source in the Eyre Mountains, south of lagoon have led to a programme to promote and a 278 ha farm property on the fl oodplain of . Together with the Oreti and encourage good management practices like riparian the lower in June 2000. Here Aparima rivers, the Mataura has created the fencing and planting, and better management of they protected 65 ha of natural wetlands, Murihiku (Southland) Plain. nutrients and fertiliser in the Waituna catchment. created 50 ha of open water habitat, and established 9 km of public walking tracks, From 1834 to 1836, whalers lived at a station Quiz question 3: How many bird species have been recorded in the Waituna Wetlands area? visitor facilities and interpretative panels. in the Fortrose area that later became a port to Rakatu was opened to the public in March 2006. service the local region. Head to New River Estuary The Waiau Trust’s vision for this property is to create an ecologically The lower reaches of the Mataura River and Stream to the east, sustainable wetland/small stream ecosystem complex, to benefi t are important whitebaiting spots. Whitebait are the young of several • Approx 40 mins drive to Invercargill. • Continue on Scott Street until the T-junction, turn left on to Elles Rd fi sheries and wildlife. The area, including Redcliff Reserve, is a native fi sh species (inaka and the threatened giant kokopu) that lay eggs stronghold for longfi nned eels. on the banks of tidal streams and spend their larval stage at sea. The fry are and then right on to Kew Rd. netted as they return up the river from August to November. • At the next intersection turn right on to State Highway 1 (left takes Quiz question 6: What is the wetland bird featured on the walking you to Bluff.) track signs? Quiz question 1: What are the three fi n fi sh found in the estuary? • Travel 1.3 km and turn to the left, then cross the railway line. • Approx 250 m on left turn in through gates to the carpark. • Travel on to Redcliffs Reserve Lookout, 2.5 km north of Rakatu Head to Lower Mataura Floodplain entrance. Pull in to car park on left hand side of road. • Approx 5 mins • Travel to the Titiroa Stream (3 km west of Fortrose) on the Tokanui From the top of the terrace you can look down over an oxbow lagoon Gorge Rd, and on to O’Neill’s Bush (1 km west of Titiroa Stream on of the Waiau River system. This area was restored in 1977 by the south side of road) Southland Acclimatisation Society under the direction of the late Roger • Pull in to carpark on left. 4 New River Estuary Sutton. Several dams were formed to raise the water level to improve the habitat for waterfowl. The open water, native riparian wetland (Invercargill) vegetation and regenerating scarp shrublands provide great habitat for a variety of species (32 bird and 7 fi sh species have been recorded). In the late 1800s this was a popular picnic and swimming spot. With land This is a favoured locality for the native black teal (NZ scaup). 2 O’Neil’s Bush, reclamation and then use as a rubbish dump, the wetland was typically abused and undervalued for many decades. In 1994 the Invercargill City Quiz question 7: Why does this area have a QEII covenant? Lower Mataura fl oodplain Council began an intensive rehabilitation project and today the area has a walking /cycling loop track around the lagoon and estuary margins and Head to Home Creek The Lower Mataura fl oodplain would once have been a series of fl ax extensive community restoration plantings. The boardwalk is dedicated and rush swamps, interspersed with kahikatea forest and peatlands. to the memory of Roger Sutton, a highly regarded self-taught ecologist • Approx 20 mins to Home Creek. Toilets available in Manapouri. Following conversion to farmland, severe fl ooding led the Southland and manager of the Acclimatisation Society (later Southland Fish & • 17.5 km north of Redcliffs, turn left off South Road heading into Catchment Board to purchase the farmland in the 1970-80s and lease it Game) who developed a restoration plan for the site. The area is now a Manapouri, just after recycling centre to the Home Creek carpark. back to farmers on the understanding that fl oods could not be controlled. rich habitat for wildlife, with a range of waterfowl and migratory wading • 0.5 km to carpark. A walk through covenanted O’Neill’s Bush enables you to experience birds, like godwit. The combined Council and community restoration a fl oodplain forest remnant. An unusual feature is the presence of effort won national recognition with a Green Ribbon Award from the silver beech, established from seed washed down the Mataura River Minister for the Environment in 2007. from the upper reaches. Three local schools, Gorge Road, Tokanui Quiz question 4: At low tide what animals provide food for wading birds? and , have planted hundreds of native plants here, and 7 Home Creek (Manapouri) Environment Southland controls pests and weeds. Head to Uruwera/Lake George Home Creek is a naturally meandering stream Quiz question 2: How many large silver beech trees do you walk past in • Approx 45 mins to Uruwera/Lake George from Invercargill. Toilets moving through glacial outwash gravels. The O’Neill’s Bush? available at Riverton or Colac Bay. stream originates to the northeast from the • Return to State Highway 1 and follow Southern Scenic Route signs Kepler and enters the Waiau River not Head to Waituna Wetlands through Invercargill heading north. At Lornville roundabout take left far below this area. • Approx 30 mins. lane to Riverton. • From O’Neill’s Bush follow the Southern Scenic Route towards • From Colac Bay surfer statue drive 1.3 km west on Southern Scenic Having been highly modifi ed as a pastoral Invercargill. Route. Turn left opposite Ward Rd into small carpark area. block, this 14 ha area was purchased by the • Approximately 5 km after crossing the Mataura River turn left • NB: Take care here as the road verge is not wide so indicate early Waiau Trust in 1997. The stream water quality at the large brown Waituna Lagoon sign just before the Gorge when turning in and ensure the road is all clear when pulling out. is very good and this stretch is an important Road Village. • Access: follow rough track 120 m to edge of lake, where an trout fi shery. Early restoration work by the Waiau Trust involved • Turn left again onto Waituna Lagoon Rd. interpretation panel is sited. Please watch children carefully as you are willow and broom control; with some plantings of silver tussock and • Watch for the walking track sign which directs you along Waghorn close to water here and there is no clear track to follow. beech. In 2000, a local group began an annual planting programme, Rd (3 km) to the carpark for the walking tracks, lookout and toilet. which supplemented the few natural remnants of fl ax and toe toe. In 2007 the Waiau Trust developed a 1.4 km circular track, which enables you to explore the area, with its amazing mountains backdrop. Quiz question 8: How many bends in Home Creek from the top, 3 Awarua-Waituna 5 Uruwera/Lake George where you cross the bridge, to the bottom?

Lake George, a shallow lowland lake, is part of a remnant peatland. The Wetlands (Waghorn Rd) Return to Invercargill or continue your journey waters from the Roundhill area to the north feed into the lake and it drains • From Home Creek you can travel 15 mins north to to The Waituna Lagoon, a coastal lake impounded by a gravel bar to the sea 2 km to the southwest. The area is important to iwi (local Maori) visit the Amoeboid Mire Lake (a side track 1.5 hours walk formed by coastal currents, became one of the fi rst Ramsar Wetlands of and is known as Uruwera. The iwi connection with Uruwera is formally along the Kepler Track from the swing bridge over the Waiau International Importance in New Zealand in 1976. It was expanded in recognised via a Deed of Recognition. The lake has provided mahinga kai River at Rainbow Reach, south of Te Anau). The mire has a 2008 to include the Awarua peatlands - tuna (eels), inaka (whitebait) and waterfowl - for local iwi from Oraka, boardwalk and interpretation panel. Awarua and Ruapuke for many generations. A botanical survey in 1989 The vast coastal peatlands were formed following the last glaciation • Return to Invercargill via or Tuatapere if you want to revealed 116 native species, including two rare plants, native musk and about 10,000 years ago. Repeated fi res, many lit to clear land for complete a loop. farming, have reduced the diversity of the wetland from a mosaic of water milfoil. sedge and fl ax-fi lled swamps, rushlands, tussock grasslands, wire-rush Quiz question 5: What is the Maori name for fl ax? bogs and forest to a manuka shrubland dominated site.

For the Maori the wetlands were an important kaitiaki (food basket) Head to Rakatu/Redcliffs of a meandering stream. meandering a of

There are about 36 bends. Lots of bends in the waterway like this are characteristic characteristic are this like waterway the in bends of Lots bends. 36 about are There providing tuna (eel), kane kane (lamprey), patiki (fl ounder), parera • Approx 35 mins to Rakatu/Redcliffs. Toilets available in Tuatapere. 7.

The QEII Open Space Covenant protects the habitat for wildlife into the future. future. the into wildlife for habitat the protects Covenant Space Open QEII The

(grey duck), along with fl ax for traps or kete (baskets) to carry the • Signposted on Southern Scenic Route (SH99), 60 kms north of 6.

Flax is called harakeke by the Maori. 6/ Pukeko. Pukeko. 6/ Maori. the by harakeke called is Flax 5. crabs. mud and sh fi Shell

food. For the early European settlers the area was also important for Tuatapere, 17 kms south of Manapouri. 4. 80 bird species. species. bird 80 3. trees. beech silver Two 2. wrasse. and sh fi elephant cod, Blue recreation, duck hunting and fi shing. Some of the huts around the • Take gravel road to Rakatu Wetlands carpark, 1.4 km. 1.

wetlands are enjoyed by fi fth generation hunters and fi shers. Questions... Quiz the to Answers