Wellington/Kapiti wetlands
There are a number of ecologically-important fresh and saltwater wetlands in the Wellington region, many of which can be visited by the public. They support a diversity of wildlife, including local and migratory waders, seabirds, waterfowl, and native fish, and some rare and threatened native flora.
Archaeological sites highlight the spiritual and traditional important of wetlands to Maori as areas for food gathering.
These protected sections of once expansive wetlands include examples of intact forest sucession, allowing us to experience what our natural landscape was like before agricultural, horticultural and urban development.
For every recognised iconic wetland there are several, smaller more fragmented wetlands that can be just as valuable to the wider wetland ecology. That there are are now so few remaining makes it even more important to protect what we have left.