New wetland area given international recognition

The Green Party are pleased to see their advocacy for New Zealand’s endangered wetlands having such tangible results as a massive new extension to the Waituna wetland area is announced on World Wetlands Day, Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.

The extension to add 16,000 hectares of wetland and estuarine area to the existing Waituna area under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands has been approved, making the newly renamed Awarua Wetlands the largest in New Zealand at 20,000 hectares, stretching from ToeToes Harbour at Fortrose, to New River Estuary in Invercargill.

The Greens secured $8.8m over 4 years in the most recent budget for integrated habitat restoration in three major wetlands: Whangamarino in the Waikato, Ashburton Lakes/Upper Rangitata in Canterbury and Awarua/Waituna wetland in Southland. That money is now enabling these wetlands to be enhanced and protected, directly contributing to New Zealand's biodiversity protection.

“Given that we have had some international criticism of our general biodiversity protection recently, I’m pleased and proud that we have helped make today’s announcement possible,” Mrs Turei says.

The 2008 Environmental Performance Index, prepared by Yale University, recently gave New Zealand a very harsh mark for failing to protect biodiversity and habitat in the marine environment.

“New Zealand has not performed well at all on ecosystem vitality. We achieved an abysmal report in marine biodiversity and habitats,” Mrs Turei says.

“Less than 10 per cent of our wetlands remain; the others have been drained for farming, mining and other development. It is imperative we act swiftly to protect the remnants,” Mrs Turei says.

What: Official opening of the Waituna viewing platform
When: 9.30am, Saturday, 2nd February
Where: End of Waghorns Road, off Waituna Lagoon Road.