Our estuaries

Experiencing estuaries

This interactive map shows where you can explore estuaries on walking tracks, watch birds and learn more with videos and educational resources.

Monitoring estuaries

About 100 estuaries around New Zealand are monitored regularly to check their health – by councils, government agencies, iwi, community groups and people like you. This interactive map lets you explore the information collected on habitats, birds, fish and shellfish.

Restoring estuaries

An interactive map of restoration work to improve the health of estuaries (mountains to sea). It also includes links to agency and community initiatives, strategic plans, plant lists and restoration guides.

Estuaries spatial database

The New Zealand estuaries spatial database is an interactive map that allows you to explore data related to estuaries, rivers, river catchments, and the marine environment.

Seagrass and mangrove extent

This interactive map shows the current and historical extent of seagrass and mangroves in New Zealand. The project is a repository for any survey work undertaken.

Featured estuary projects

There are many opportunities to get involved in online and practical projects based around estuaries in New Zealand.

About estuaries

Estuaries are dynamic, rich ecosystems where freshwater mixes with the sea. Find out why they are important and some of the threats they face.

Estuaries on social media

Feeling inspired by one of #OurEstuaries? Share your photos on social media and you may have your experiences featured here.

Protecting our estuaries

Use this resource to learn about, explore and protect our unique estuarine environments.

Estuarine systems in the lower North Island/Te Ika-a-Māui

This report describes geographic features, values and pressures for 48 estuarine sites in the lower North Island and sets out current and potential conservation activities. Published 2016.

Estuaries publications

Find publications about New Zealand's estuaries.

More about estuaries

Links to resources about estuaries including species identification guides, iwi and whānau resources, and information about monitoring or restoring an estuary.

Getting started

Here are some ideas for using Our Estuaries hub.

• If you want to find a walk near an estuary, see the experiencing estuaries map.
• If you'd like to contribute your local knowledge about an estuary, find a group to connect with on the restoring estuaries map.
• See the featured projects page for ways to record things you see in an estuary and join a community of online enthusiasts.
• Find out how healthy your local estuary is with the LAWA website or the monitoring estuaries map.
• If you’d like to get your hands dirty with some native planting or monitor pests near an estuary, link up with others via the restoring estuaries map.
• For bird lists or teacher resources see the experiencing estuaries map.
• Share your knowledge with other groups via the restoring estuaries map.
• Tell the world about your estuary care group or project via social media using #OurEstuaries.

Feedback

We welcome your suggestions on how to make this Our estuaries hub even better.

• Link to doc.govt.nz/estuaries on your website.
• Email your feedback to ourestuaries@doc.govt.nz.
• Let us know if you’d like your care group or project added to the maps.
• Take part in a short survey to let us know your feedback.