There's plenty to see and do at the estuary.
The estuary walkway provides beautiful views, and there are signs along the way providing information about some of the birds you might see.
There is a lot of interesting wildlife at the estuary. As well as birds, the estuary is also home to some interesting plants and is an important habitat for native fish.
The Manawatū Estuary Trust enjoys giving people the opportunity to learn more about this amazing environ
As this page will become more lengthy as additional content is added, by clicking on the in-page menu below it will guide you towards relevant publications. If a more detailed search is required please use the search button on the home page. This will take you to all references relating to that subject on the site as a whole. Specific references are listed in that section such as all literature relating to Ramsar is listed on that page. All species covered on the site will have at least one link to more detailed information.
Many of the pages on this website have referenced links to literature which give a more detailed account of the subject. The estuary is a very diverse environment and many aspects are not yet covered and, in some instances, may never be in any great detail. This section aims to provide an insight into some of those aspects with further references being added over time. Entries will be entered either chronologically as published in a series or alphabetically for general references.
NEW ZEALAND THREAT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Throughout this website and related links to species and their threat status, the New Zealand Threat Classification System is used. Below are links to the relevant documents which outline the criteria used for each category. Also, the 44 reports outlining comprehensive details of how status is attributed to each species within the taxa covered.
New Zealand Threat Classification System Manual. 2022. Part 1 Assessments.
New Zealand Threat Classification System Manual. 2022. Part 2 Administration.
45. Conservation status of indigenous aphids in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2024.
Simon Bulman, David A.J. Teulon and Pascale Michel. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 45.Department of Conservation, Wellington. 16 p. (PDF, 581k)
44. Conservation status of amphibians in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2024
By: Rhys J. Burns, Doug P. Armstrong, Ben D. Bell, Amanda Haigh, Jennifer Germano, Nicolas J. Rawlence, Tertia Thurley, Rodney A. Hitchmough, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel New Zealand Threat Classification Series 44. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 19 p. (PDF, 845K)
43. Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023
By: Peter J. de Lange, Jane Gosden, Shannel P. Courtney, Alexander J. Fergus, John W. Barkla, Sarah M. Beadel, Paul D. Champion, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Troy Makan and Pascale Michel. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 43. 105 p. (PDF 3,177K)
42. Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous terrestrial Gastropoda (slugs and snails). Part 3. Rhytididae (carnivorous snails), 2022
By: Kath Walker, Kerry Walton, Eric Edwards, Rod Hitchmough, Ian Payton, Gary Barker and Pascale Michel. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 42. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 32 p. (PDF, 4937K)
41. Conservation status of bats in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2022
By: Colin O’Donnell, Kerry Borkin, Jenny Christie, Ian Davidson-Watts, Gillian Dennis,Moira Pryde, Pascale Michel. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 41. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 18 p. (PDF, 783K)
40. Conservation status of indigenous marine invertebrates in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2021
By: Greig Funnell, Dennis Gordon, Daniel Leduc, Troy Makan, Bruce A. Marshall, Sadie Mills, Pascale Michel, Geoff Read, Kareen Schnabel, Di Tracey and Stephen Wing. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 40. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 42p. (PDF, 517K)
39. Conservation status of Orthoptera (wētā, crickets and grasshoppers) in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2022
By: Steve Trewick, Danilo Hegg, Mary Morgan-Richards, Tara Murray, Corinne Watts, Peter Johns, and Pascale Michel. New Zealand Threat ClassificationSeries 39. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 28p. (PDF, 770K)
38. Conservation status of selected species of non-lichenised agarics, boletes and russuloid fungi in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2021
By: Jerry A. Cooper, Peter K. Buchanan, Pat Leonard, Lois Allison-Cooper, Peter Johnston, Mahajabeen Padamsee, Eric McKenzieand Pascale Michel. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 38. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 49 p. (PDF, 844K)
37. Conservation status of parasitic mites and ticks (Acari) in New Zealand, 2021
By: Allen Heath, Jeremy Rolfe, Pascale Michel. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 37. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 23 p. (PDF, 2103K)
36. Conservation status of birds in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2021
By: Hugh A. Robertson, Karen A. Baird, Graeme P. Elliott, Rodney A. Hitchmough, Nikki J. McArthur, Troy Makan, Colin M. Miskelly, Colin. J. O’Donnell, Paul M. Sagar, R. Paul Scofield, Graeme A. Taylor and Pascale Michel. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 36. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 43 p. (PDF, 824K)
35. Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2021
By: Rod Hitchmough, Ben Barr, Carey Knox, Marieke Lettink, Joanne M. Monks, Geoff B. Patterson, James T. Reardon, Dylan van Winkel, Jeremy Rolfe and Pascale MichelNew Zealand Threat Classification Series 35. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 23p. (PDF, 3,224K)
Note: This publication was updated in February 2024 to include a draft revised assessment of Oligosoma lineoocellatum (Canterbury spotted skink).
34. Conservation status of New Zealand Araneae (spiders), 2020
By: Phil J. Sirvid, Cor J. Vink, Brian M. Fitzgerald, Mike D. Wakelin, Jeremy Rolfe and Pascale Michel
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 34. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 33 p. (PDF, 2,955K)
33. Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous terrestrial Gastropoda (slugs and snails), 2020. Part 2. Achatinellidae, Bothriembryontidae (pūpūharakeke), Euconulidae, Helicarionidae, Pupinidae and Vertiginidae
By: K. Walker, F.J. Brook, G.M. Barker, D.J. Roscoe, E. Edwards, R.A. Hitchmough, J.R. Rolfe and P. Michel
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 33. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 9 p. (PDF, 3,458K)
32. Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous terrestrial Gastropoda (slugs and snails), 2020. Part 1. Athoracophoridae (leaf-veined slugs) and Succineidae (amber snails)
By: G.M. Barker, F.J. Brook, K. Mahlfeld, K. Walker, D.J. Roscoe, R.A. Hitchmough, E. Edwards, J.R. Rolfe and P. Michel
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 32. Department of Conservation, Wellington. 15 p. (PDF, 2,806K)
31. Conservation status of New Zealand hornworts and liverworts, 2020
By: P.J. de Lange, D. Glenny, K. Frogley, M.A.M. Renner, M. von Konrat, J.J. Engel, C. Reeb and J.R. Rolfe
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 31. 30 p. (PDF 2,691K)
30. Conservation status of New Zealand macroalgae, 2019
By: Wendy A. Nelson, Kate Neill, Roberta D’Archino and Jeremy R. Rolfe
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 30. 33 p. (PDF 3,702K)
29. Conservation status of New Zealand marine mammals, 2019
By:C.S. Baker, L. Boren, S. Childerhouse, R. Constantine, A. van Helden, D. Lundquist, W. Rayment and J.R. Rolfe
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 29. 18 p. (PDF, 2,741K)
Note: The conservation status of marine mammals was reviewed in 2024 and this publication is now replaced by Lundquist D., Boren L., Childerhouse S., Constantine R., van Helden A., Hitchmough R., Michel P., Rayment W., Baker C.S. (in press). Conservation status of marine mammals in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2024. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. Wellington, New Zealand. Supporting data for this upcoming publication were released in April 2024 in NZTCS database: Report Marine mammals 2024 (Linquist et al.).
28. Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater invertebrates, 2018
By: N. Grainger, J. Harding, T. Drinan, K. Collier, B. Smith, R. Death, T. Makan and J. Rolfe
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 28. 25 p. (PDF, 575K)
27. Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous lichens and lichenicolous fungi, 2018
By: Peter de Lange, Dan Blanchon, Allison Knight, John Elix, Robert Lücking, Kelly Frogley, Anna Harris, Jerry Cooper and Jeremy Rolfe
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 27. 64 p. (PDF, 7,86K)
26. Conservation status of New Zealand Onychophora (‘peripatus’ or velvet worm), 2018
By S. Trewick, R. Hitchmough, J. Rolfe and I. Stringer
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 26. 3 p. (PDF, 7,969K)
25. Conservation status of New Zealand amphibians, 2017
By Rhys J. Burns, Ben D. Bell, Amanda Haigh, Phillip Bishop, Luke Easton, Sally Wren, Jennifer Germano, Rodney A. Hitchmough, Jeremy R. Rolfe and Troy Makan New Zealand Threat Classification Series 25. 7 p. (PDF, 8,279K)
24. Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater fishes, 2017
By Nicholas R. Dunn, Richard M. Allibone, Gerard P. Closs, Shannan K. Crow, Bruno O. David, Jane M. Goodman, Marc Griffiths, Daniel C. Jack, Nicholas Ling, Jonathan M. Waters and Jeremy R. Rolfe. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 24. 11 p. (PDF, 7,374K)
23. Conservation status of New Zealand chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays), 2016
By Clinton Duffy, Malcolm Francis, Matthew Dunn, Brit Finucci, Richard Ford, Rod Hitchmough and Jeremy Rolfe. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 23. 13 p. (PDF, 7,439K)
22. Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017
By Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, John W. Barkla, Shannel P. Courtney, Paul D. Champion, Leon R. Perrie, Sarah M. Beadel, Kerry A. Ford, Ilse Breitwieser, Ines Schönberger, Rowan Hindmarsh-Walls, Peter B. Heenan and Kate Ladley. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 22. 82 p. (PDF, 8,580K)
21. Conservation status of New Zealand bats, 2017.
By C.F.J. O’Donnell, K.M. Borkin, J.E. Christie, B. Lloyd, S. Parsons and R.A. Hitchmough. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 21. 4 p. (PDF, 1064K)
20. Conservation status of New Zealand butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera), 2015
By R.J.B. Hoare, J.S. Dugdale, E.D. Edwards, G.W. Gibbs, B.H. Patrick, R.A. Hitchmough and J.R .Rolfe. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 20. 13 p. (PDF, 1149K)
19. Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2016
Hugh A. Robertson, Karen Baird, John E. Dowding, Graeme P. Elliott, Rodney A. Hitchmough, Colin M. Miskelly, Nikki McArthur, Colin F.J. O’Donnell, Paul M. Sagar, R. Paul Scofield; Graeme A. Taylor. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 19. 27 p. (PDF, 601K)
18. Conservation status of New Zealand Hymenoptera, 2014
D. Ward, J. Early, F.-R. Schnitzler, R. Hitchmough, J. Rolfe, I. Stringer. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 18. 14 p. (PDF, 539K)
17. Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2015
By Rod Hitchmough, Ben Barr, Marieke Lettink, Jo Monks, James Reardon, Mandy Tocher, Dylan van Winkel and Jeremy Rolfe. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 17. 14 p. (PDF, 550K)
16. Conservation status of New Zealand Orthoptera, 2014
By Steve Trewick, Peter Johns, Rod Hitchmough, Jeremy Rolfe and Ian Stringer 2016. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 16. 15 p. (PDF, 520K)
15. Conservation status of New Zealand stick insects, 2014
By Thomas R. Buckley, Rod Hitchmough, Jeremy Rolfe and Ian Stringer 2016. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 15. 3 p. (PDF, 465K)
14. Conservation status of New Zealand marine mammals, 2013
By C.S. Baker, B.L. Chilvers, S. Childerhouse, R. Constantine, R. Currey, R. Mattlin, A. Van Helden, R. Hitchmough, and J. Rolfe 2016.New Zealand Threat Classification Series 14. 18 p. (PDF, 636K)
13. Conservation status of New Zealand mosses, 2014
By Jeremy R. Rolfe, Allan J. Fife, Jessica E. Beever, Patrick J. Brownsey and Rodney A. Hitchmough 2016. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 13. 12 p. (PDF, 583K)
12. Conservation status of New Zealand fleas, 2014
By Allen C.G. Heath, Ian Stringer, Rod Hitchmough and Jeremy Rolfe 2015. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 12. 5 p. (PDF, 552K)
11. Conservation status of New Zealand hornworts and liverworts, 2014
Peter J. De Lange, David Glenny, John Braggins, Matt Renner, Matt von Konrat, John Engel, Catherine Reeb and Jeremy Rolfe 2015. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 11. 31 p. (PDF, 686K)
10. Conservation status of New Zealand earthworms, 2014.
Thomas R. Buckley, Stéphane Boyer, Scott Bartlam, Rod Hitchmough, Jeremy Rolfe and Ian Stringer 2015. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 10. 10 p. (PDF, 575K)
9. Conservation status of New Zealand marine invertebrates, 2013
Debbie Freeman, Kareen Schnabel, Bruce Marshall, Dennis Gordon, Stephen Wing, Di Tracey and Rod Hitchmough 2014. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 9. 20 p. (PDF, 664K)
8. Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater invertebrates, 2013
Natasha Grainger, Kevin Collier, Rod Hitchmough, Jon Harding, Brian Smith and Darin Sutherland
New Zealand Threat Classification Series 8. 28 p. (PDF, 748K) Supplemental data (XLSX, 119K)
7. Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater fish, 2013.
Jane M. Goodman, Nicholas R. Dunn, Peter J. Ravenscroft, Richard M. Allibone, Jacques A.T. Boubee, Bruno O. David, Marc Griffiths, Nicholas Ling, Rodney A. Hitchmough and Jeremy R. Rolfe 2014. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 7. 12 p. (PDF, 599K) Supplemental data (XLSX, 48K)
6. Conservation status of New Zealand bats, 2012.
C. O’Donnell, J. Christie, B. Lloyd, S. Parsons and R. Hitchmough 2013. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 6. 8 p. (PDF, 552K) Supplemental data (XLSX, 21K)
5. Conservation status of New Zealand frogs, 2013.
By Don Newman, Ben Bell, Phillip Bishop, Rhys Burns, Amanda Haigh and Rod Hitchmough 2013. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 5. 10 p. (PDF, 566K) Supplemental data (XLSX, 23K)
4. Conservation status of New Zealand birds, 2012.
By Hugh Robertson, John Dowding, Graeme Elliott, Rod Hitchmough, Colin Miskelly, Colin O’Donnell, Ralph Powlesland, Paul Sagar, Paul Scofield, Graeme Taylor 2013. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 4. 22 p. (PDF, 620K) Supplemental data (XLSX, 98K)
3. Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012.
By Peter de Lange, Jeremy Rolfe, Paul Champion, Shannel Courtney, Peter Heenan, John Barkla, Ewen Cameron, David Norton and Rodney Hitchmough 2013. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. 70 p. (PDF, 793K) Supplemental data (XLSX, 410K)
2. Conservation status of New Zealand reptiles, 2012.
By R. Hitchmough, P. Anderson, B. Barr, J. Monks, M. Lettink, J. Reardon, M. Tocher and T. Whitaker 2013. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 2. 16 p. (PDF, 650K) Supplemental data (XLSX, 39K)
1. Summary of changes to the conservation status of taxa in the 2008-11
New Zealand Threat Classification System listing cycle. Rod Hitchmough 2013. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 1. 20 p. (PDF, 653K)
Although now known as the Coastal Restoration Trust, it was formed in 2007 as the Dune Restoration Trust and some of their literature still bares its previous name. This is the go-to organisation for coastal information, and its website can be assessed here.
Below are links to some of the more useful information pertaining to our area especially the section titled Dune Restoration which has a number of drop-down tabs.
Unfortunately, their Coastal Restoration Handbook is sectional which allows for easy additions to be made but can't be printed as one volume. The Handbook should be consulted for the full range of subjects, but the following are perhaps the most useful for our location.
A series of videos are produced which provide a useful reference source and the 14 provide a wealth of information which is well worth a view.
Spinifex: Ecology covers the ecology, habitat and growth while Establishment provides information on seed collection, propagation and establishment.
Pingao: Ecology covers ecology, distribution and habitat while Establishment covers seed collection, propagation and establishment.
Ground cover plants for restoration of back dunes.
Trees and shrubs to use on the back dunes.
Wiwi: Habitat and propagation.
Sand Daphne: Restoration of a plant in decline.
COASTAL RESTORATION TRUST
ECOLOGY
Butcher, Michael Robert. 1976. Some Aspects of the Ecology of the Intertidal Benthic Biota of the Manawatū River Estuary. Thesis presented as partial fulfilment of a masters degree at Massey University. https://ref.coastalrestorationtrust.org.nz/site/assets/files/9665/02
Davis, Dr L.J. 1988.Birds of the Manawatū Estuary and the implications of the spread of Spartina cordgrass. Ornithological Society of New Zealand Ltd
FAUNA
Imber, M.J. 1960. Hudsonian godwit at the Manawatū Estuary. Notornis, 9 (3), 107-108
Ling, N. 2001. New Zealand mudfish: a guide, part 1, part 2, part 3.
Powell, Michelle. 2011. Seasonal and Spacial Variation of Nicon aestuariensis (Polychaeta : Nereiddae) at the Manawatū Estuary, New Zealand. Thesis presented as partial fulfilment of a masters degree at Massey University.
Wildbase takes shag and penguin home to Foxton Beach. Massey University News 6/7/2018
FLORA
Asher, R.A. & Stark,J.D 1988. Spartina spraying environmental monitoring Manawatū River estuary pre-spray survey (15-16 February, 1988).
Department of Conservation, Palmerston North. Cawthorn Institute, Nelson. Not available electronically.
Department of Conservation. Spartina. Factsheet
Ornithological Society of New Zealand. 1987. Spartina Cord Grass in the Manawatū Estuary. Not available electronically.
Stringer, I.A.N., Potter, M.A. & Barker, R. 1992. Spartina spraying environmental monitoring, Manawatū River estuary post-spray survey (31st January 1992) Department of Ecology, Massey University, Palmerston North. Not available electronically.