Community whitebait habitat restoration, Cobden Aromahana Sanctuary
Image: Hank Stengs | DOC

Our estuaries

Introduction

This community resource will help you explore and learn more about our many estuaries.

It includes a wealth of information to help us make a difference to these special places, such as interactive maps that show where monitoring and restoration work is happening around New Zealand and a teachers’ resource.

    Experiencing 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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    Featured estuary projects

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

    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

    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

    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

    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.
    More about 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.

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