Surrounding land at Tāwharanui Marine Reserve
How much is human activity on surrounding land affecting the health of the ecosystem at Tāwharanui Marine Reserve and how is it changing?

Status: good

Tāwharanui Regional Park and Open Sanctuary adjoins the marine reserve. The park is protected by a pest-proof fence running across the Tāwharanui Peninsula, through which visitors pass to access beaches and walking tracks in the area. It contains a working sheep and cattle farm, native coastal forest and regenerating wetlands.

Tāwharanui stream (on the peninsula) is monitored for ecological health every three years by Auckland Council with the last sample being taken in early 2016. More than 90% of the stream’s catchment is in mature native bush, so there is very limited, if any, impact from farming and erosion. Its overall ecology score is rated between Good and Excellent. 

Trend: stable

Revegetation work is being carried out in the park (including an area of wetland), which may improve the quality of the surrounding land, and the water quality in the marine reserve, in the future.

Reports

  • River ecology status and trends 2003–2013. Auckland Council Research and Evaluation Unit (RIMU) 2017.