Kaituna wetland

Introduction

The Kaituna wetland is a major legacy for future generations.

Only 3% of the Bay of Plenty's original wetlands remain, and Kaituna is the biggest area left. Protecting, restoring, and managing the remaining wetlands is priority work for the Department of Conservation, other environmental agencies and community conservation groups.

Ti kouka / cabbage tree thrive at Kaituna

What happened here?

The lower Kaituna River was home to early Māori who built coastal pā along the banks and inside the current reserve area. Food and other resources were richly available.

Flax was milled here in the early 1900s, and then vast areas of the wetland were drained and burnt-off for farmland. The biggest changes occurred during the 1970s and 80s when the Kaituna River was straightened, taking water away from the wetland.

Around this time, the Tauranga Acclimatisation Society bought some land to retain wildlife habitat. This land purchase resulted in the wetland we have today. It became the Lower Kaituna Wildlife Management Reserve in 1985.

Features

This lowland swamp now has an abundance of cabbage trees/tī kōuka, flax/harakeke and raupō along with kahikatea and swamp maire. The threatened fernbird/mātātā, spotless crake/pūweto and Australasian bittern/matuku are present along with pūkeko, ducks, shags and pied stilts/poaka.

Survival of the plants and animals living in the Kaituna wetland depends on keeping water flowing in and out of the reserve, and controlling introduced weeds and animal pests.

A long-running restoration programme involving local schools has seen more of the wetland returned to its natural state.

Water

The only entry for water is through a controlled gate on the Kaituna River. Water continually leaves the wetland through evaporation and seepage. If the land dries out, weeds and other problems become magnified. The wetland itself is higher than the farmland around it because the ground has dried, and shrunk over time. This makes it even harder to maintain suitable water levels and habitat for wildlife.

Te Puke High School planting at
Kaituna

Weeds

Invasive plants like parrot's feather, pampas grass, moth plant, blackberry and Japanese honeysuckle are constantly invading the wetland from surrounding areas. These choke and clog the wetland.

Pest animals

Rats, stoats, cats and other mammal predators have to be controlled if bird numbers are to remain strong. The introduced mosquito fish (gambusia) is present in high numbers in the reserve, competing strongly with native fish for both space and food.

Activities

Bird and wildlife watching

Kaituna is home to several species of waterbird including Australasian bittern and banded rail. The e secretive birds are easier to hear than see, with bittern making a booming call at first light. They can sometimes be seen from the track but are easily spooked.

Fernbird, kingfisher, ducks and pukeko are easier to spot and are found in good numbers in the reserve.

Hunting

Duck hunting season usually opens on the first weekend in May and finishes at the end of June. It is best not to visit during these times, other than to hunt.

Hunting permits are allocated by Fish and Game New Zealand

Kayaking and canoeing

When water levels are high enough, the Kaituna Kayak Trail grants a new perspective on the wetland and lets you get up close to the plants and animals. Check live water level information on the Bay of Plenty Regional Council website.

Plan and prepare

• Please stay on the formed tracks.
• No mountain bikes.
• No vehicles in the reserve (registered hunters have limited vehicle access before the hunting season).
• Take any rubbish with you.
• Dogs are not permitted outside of the hunting season. Restrictions apply during the season.
• No fires.
• Don't disturb the wildlife.

Other places to visit

• Matata Lagoon - a coastal freshwater lagoon that is gradually being restored.
• Ohiwa Harbour - a large harbour with estuarine wetlands.
• The Nukuhou Saltmarsh and walkway are worth visiting.

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