The term “wetland” literally means areas that are wet some, or all of the time. One of the reasons Wairarapa Moana is so special is because of the range of wetland types that are present here.
Wetland plants are familiar with change, especially here. They cope with gale-force winds, hot, dry summers and the constant ebb and flow of water.
However, in the last 200 years, the plants here have had to face new changes. Many of the wetlands surrounding the lakes were drained, areas of native plants were cleared, and pest plants and animals were introduced. An interesting array of around 200 plants have endured this changing environment, and continue to grow in the different types of wetlands. While many of them are rare or threatened, these plants support the diversity of animal life at Wairarapa Moana.
Sedgelands
Open water and lagoons
Lakeshore mudflats
Dune and dry gravel
Saltmarsh
Ephemeral wetlands
Threats to plants and ecosystem types
We’ve lost around 90 per cent of our wetlands in Aotearoa New Zealand, and in the Wellington Region, we’ve lost 97 per cent. This has massively reduced the area for many of these wetland plants to live. To make matters worse, native plants in the remaining wetlands have to compete with vigorous introduced weeds and are being chomped on by livestock and pest animals such as possums and feral rabbits.
How you can help
Check, clean and dry your fishing rods, gumboots, waders and other gear you’ve been in the water with before taking it anywhere else. This will prevent any aquatic weeds from hitching a ride to a new home
Always empty aquarium contents into the compost heap or garden, NOT into a drain or waterway. Many of our freshwater plant pests started out their life in aquarium tanks
Keep stock out of waterways and wetlands
Plant native eco-sourced trees in wetland margins and along stream banks to create shade and cover and help out with wetland restoration. Join one of the many groups involved in this work
What are we doing to help?
Our staff from Department of Conservation and Greater Wellington Regional Council, as well as members of the community, are out and about in Wairarapa Moana regularly controlling plant and animal pests and undertaking restoration planting
We work with farmers to exclude stock, control weeds and pest animals and plant up their wetlands, waterways and other areas of high biodiversity value.