Hon Eugenie Sage
Minister of Conservation

2 February 2018 MEDIA STATEMENT

New Zealand’s wetlands at risk

A new report shows New Zealand is continuing to lose its precious wetlands and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says it will take years to turn the trend around.

The Minister released the eighth national report under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance to mark World Wetlands Day today.

“It will take a concerted and serious effort and years to change this trend. Our wetlands are the land’s kidneys capturing sediments and nutrients and slowly releasing water in drought prone areas. They are home to precious wildlife and plants and are wonderful places for people to experience nature,” Ms Sage said.

“In New Zealand, we have lost 90% of our natural wetlands. Large areas of Canterbury, Manawatu, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty historically had extensive freshwater wetlands. In Southland more than 1000 ha of wetland has been lost since 2007.”.

“We must protect the last 10%.”

Wetlands support a diverse range of ecosystems and species, including Kahikatea swamp forest, mangroves, migratory shorebirds, tuna/eel and whitebait, coastal lagoons, alpine tarns.

Rare and threatened species that rely on New Zealand’s remaining wetlands include the Australasian Bittern/matuku, Canterbury mudfish (our most threatened mudfish species) and Corybas carsei (Swamp helmet orchid) – which now has only one population remaining, at the Whangamarino Wetlands near Te Kauwhata in northern Waikato.

“There are instances of great wetlands management and restoration activities carried out by the Department of Conservation, local authorities, community and non-governmental groups, iwi, Fish & Game, private landowners, and commercial partners.

“But we need to do much more. I want to see more Ramsar sites, and DOC is investigating options. There needs to be more replanting of wetlands and better use of the Resource Management Act to ensure they are considered when intensive developments and agricultural expansions are being considered.

“These unique areas are too important for New Zealand’s native wildlife and plants to lose. The Government will do more and continue to support for communities working hard to achieve long-term wetland conservation,” says Ms Sage.

New Zealand’s eighth national report under the Ramsar Convention: http://www.doc.govt.nz/report-on-the-implementation-of-the-ramsar-convention/

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