Literature The references and links in this section are intended to assist with further research on many aspects related to the Estuary and its Ramsar site status which are not covered elsewhere. Specific references to individual species are included on their page and included here under their generic heading such as fish, birds etc. Legislation documents pertaining to various aspects which are in law are included under the Legislation page. This is a work in progress and will be added to as and when new publications become available. Links are on each picture and will redirect to an anchored page giving more details. New Zealand Threat Classification System

Beetles This page is under contruction and will be continually up-dated with additional information added as it becomes available. A checklist of species recorded from the area is included here . Information is basic and continually updated with links given by the usual method to a wealth of additional information. Headings and columns A and B are locked, so are always visible. Web address links are edited to fit within the static species columns. List can be downloaded, and additions added for personal use be "save as". These will not be saved to web. Broun"s Sand Beetle Lagrioda brouni Endemic. Not assessed. Very little is known about this reasonably common species of beetle. It is mainly associated with driftwood, being found either beneath it or in inside crevices. Mainly observed either as solitary individuals, small groups or, on occasions, congregating in groups of a dozen or so. iNaturalist-Broun's Sand Beetle

Giant Kōkopu Galaxias argenteus Endemic. At risk-declining. This is the largest member of its family with specimens of over 450 mm in length have been reported This is rare with fish in the range of 200–300 mm being the more common size. It was the first of its genus (family) to be discovered and the whole group was given the name Galaxias because of the profusion of spots on adults giving the appearance of stars in the galaxy. Only found in low numbers in the whitebait catch, they can live in land-locked bodies of water such as lakes, and in streams where water-flow is slow with ample overhanging vegetation for shelter. They are mainly nocturnal in habit and feed on a variety of insects and other aquatic life. More information on this interesting species can be found here . Wikipedia-Giant Kokopu

A two-year project to up-date the 2015-25 Manawatu Estuary Management Plan is nearing completion and will be uploaded here when finished but please click this link to see the final draft. Bi-monthly meetings were held with representatives from local iwi, district, regional and government agencies, plus numerous local organisations and interested individuals resulting in a comprehensive plan going forward. A major part of this was the formation of sub-groups to plan and implement actions to improve and increase knowledge on this special place. The full plan is comprehensive, but the abridged version of actions resulting from this new plan is available here . The launch of the Plan attracted much local media attention in both the Horowhenua Chronicle and the Horowhenua Star. As time progresses, it is anticipated that there will be more coverage of the Estuary and the activities which are undertaken to improve this important area. It is hoped that there will be enough coverage to warrant a separate page but, in the meantime, below is a list of links to those that have already been published. Guardians of the Estuary Horowhenua Chronicle 21/2/2025 Foxton Beach's Stormwater is Slowly Poisoning the Estuary Horowhenua Chronicle 28/2/2025 Foxton's Dune Garden Rare Sighting Environment Network Manawatū Newsletter March 2025 Farewell to the Godwits Horowhenua Chronicle 21/3/2025 Safeguarding Manawatū Estuary for future generations The Post 25/3/2025 Launch of the Papangaio Te Wharanagi Management Plan Horowhenua Chronicle 28/3/2025 Estuary Passion led to Ramsar Status Horowhenua Star 4/4/202 5 A Minister Calls at the Farm Gate Horowhenua Chronicle 17/4/2025 Discovery Amongst the Shifting Sands Horowhenua Chronicle 1/5/2025 Troubled Waters at Whitebait Creek Horowhenua Chronicle 1/5/2025 Big Plans for Pest Trapping Manawatū Standard 3/5/2025 Great News for Wildlife Foxton is Bad News for Rats Horowhenua Chronicle 8/5/2025 Growing Ideas for Foxton Beach School Horowhenua Chronicle 29/5/2025

Photo credits, (thumbnail) Don and Betty Wood. (main) Jesse Bythell Māori Musk Thyridia repens Native. At risk-naturally uncommon. This rare flowering species is found in estuaries around Aotearoa New Zealand. We are fortunate to have some in the Manawat ū Estuary, but in a relatively inaccessible area which is no bad thing, Although the flower is distinctive, when not in flower the plant can resemble Maakoako. It is a widespread, although uncommon species which seems to have suffered from the spread of several species of exotic reeds and grasses.. Flower colour varies between shades of purple but are sometimes much lighter, bordering almost to white. These distinctive blooms appear between November and May. but are relatively short-lived. NZPCN-Thyridia repens iNaturalist-New Zealand Musk

This page is under contruction and will be continually up-dated with additional information added as it becomes available. This group of animals in not well represented around the estuary with very few species likely to be seen and then, most are most likely to have been introduced. There is every likelihood that in the near future some marine species may crop up, either as live specimens or washed-up fatalities as has happened on several beaches along this coast in recent years. Sea Turtles and Sea Snakes are the most likely candidates. A checklist of species recorded from the area is included here . Information is basic and continually updated with links given by the usual method to a wealth of additional information. Headings and columns A and B are locked, so are always visible. Web address links are edited to fit within the static species columns. List can be downloaded, and additions added for personal use be "save as". These will not be saved to web. The latest report by the Department of Conservation on the status of Amphibians in Aotearoa Nea Zealand has just been published (February 2025) and is downloadable here . Northern Grass Skink Oligosoma polychroma Endemic. Not threatened Sadly, this was until quite recently the common species seen around Foxton Beach, but it is the introduced Plague Skink (see pest fauna) from Australia that is now the most frequently encountered. The two species are very similar and descriptions of how to tell them apart is described in this DoC poster. Further inland this is still a common species Occurs in a wide range of habitats but most often in rough pasture and some urban gardens where is shelters amongst wood piles and other garden items. Also, likes to bask on sunny days and are usually first seen as they scurry away. They can be long lived and reach maturity at around four years old, and they give birth to live young. Diet consists of small insects with some fruit when in season. New Zealand Herpetological Society-Northern Grass Skink Olive Ridley Sea Turtle Lepidochelys olivacea Native non-resident. Vagrant. The Olive Ridley is the smallest of the seven species of sea turtle that are found mainly in the warmer waters of the world, including periodically northern regions of Aotearoa New Zealand. Growing up to 80 cm and weighing around 50 kg when adult with both sexes similar in size but females have a more rounded carapace (shell). Recorded periodically, its status in Aotearoa New Zealand is listed only as a native none resident but on a global scale is included under the IUCN categorizations as Vulnerable and decreasing. It is however probably the most abundant species. Two have been found on local beaches in the last two years, including one at Foxton Beach in October 2024. Both were alive, but in very poor condition and neither survived. Olive Ridley Project

Molluscs Globally, there are around 85,000 species. They are a diverse group of both familiar and unfamiliar species including snails, slugs, clams, barnacles, mussels, squid, octopus plus many unfamiliar species. An excellent article is linked here a nd this also has a number of links to other avenues of mollusc information. A more in-depth outline of species in given here . A checklist of species recorded from the area is included here . Information is basic and continually updated with links given by the usual method to a wealth of additional information. Headings and columns A and B are locked, so are always visible. Web address links are edited to fit within the static species columns. List can be downloaded, and additions added for personal use be “save as”. These will not be saved to web. Mudflat Snail Saltmarch Snail Toheroa Photo Tangatawhenua iNaturalist

Tuna kuwharuwharu/Longfin Eel Anguilla dieffenbachii Native. At risk-declining. Mainly a nocturnal species, they live in rivers and lakes but can also be found in most types of water, usually inland from the coast but can equally survive in farm drains, dams and large ponds even if the water is quite murky water. Most habitats would have some bank shading. A second species, Tuna Hinahina/Shortfin Eel A. australis is also found in our rivers but is not as abundant. Breeding takes place only once in their lifetime when they migrate some 5000 km across the Pacific to lay their eggs off the coast of Tonga, after which they die. Spawn drifts back to Aotearoa New Zealand on sea currents, hatching en route. On entering freshwater to start their migration up-stream they change into "glass eel" and it could be up to 80 years before these repeat the journey. The Department of Conservation produces an excellent information sheet which includes links to an activity book and many other aspects of their lives.

Poaka/Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus Native. Not threatened. Poaka/Pied Stilts can be seen on the mudflats at the estuary and mix readily with other feeding shorebirds such as oystercatchers and godwits. It is more abundant in winter when flocks of over a hundred can regularly be encountered from the viewing platform.at Dawick Street. They are a stunning, slender black and white wader that stalks through the water on long, red, stilt-like legs which trail behind them when flying. Plumage can be variable, especially around the head and neck. The long, slim beak is black and the eye red. Diet consists of water insects and crustacea which are taken from the water or the mud. When wading through water, it may take food from the surface or put its head underwater. On the mudflats it probes or scythes soft mud with its beak. Pied stilts are usually seen in groups, and also breed in small colonies. The bird has a distinctive yapping call which it utters while both on the ground and in flight, nzbirdsonline-Pied Stilt

Fungi, Mosses and Lichens The diversity of fungi species is not that well recorded from the area and while many species are likely to be added over time from surrounding areas, especially in woodland, there is still much searching still to be done. A checklist of fungi, along with the few species of mosses and lichens recorded from the area is included here . Information is basic and continually up-dated with links given by the usual method to a wealth of additional information. Headings and columns A and B are locked, so are always visible. This checklist does not follow a recognised format as one doesn't appear to exist for species recorded in Aotearoa New Zealand. Web address links are edited to fit within the static species columns. List can be downloaded and additions for personal use be "save as". These will not be saved to the web. White Basket Fungus Fly Agaric

Fauna and Flora The Manawatū Estuary offers important habitat for many different wildlife species, and has one of the highest bird diversities in New Zealand. In addition, it is home to a number of threatened fish and plant species. Click on the links below to learn more about some of the species you might see there. Birds Fish Plants Mammals Crusta cea Spiders Molluscs Beach Mysteries Beetles Fungi, Mosses and Lichens Other marine species Invertebrates Amphibians and Reptiles Ferns

Retoreto/Red Azolla Azolla rubra Native. Not assessed. This is perhaps Aotearoa New Zealand's most unusual species of fern is as much as it is entirely aquatic, being found on ponds and slow-flowing streams and ditches. It is found throughout both Islands but has predominantly been replaced in Northland by an introduced Australian species. Also, found throughout the Pacific reaching as far as India. As can be seen from the photograph it can form dense patches which can cover entire areas. Usually brick red or glaucous green it produces spores which are dispersed either by wind, water or by attaching themselves to anything that move through their environment. NZPCN-Azolla rubra iNaturalist-Red Azolla Rauarahu/Austral Bracken Pteridium esculentum Native. Not threatened Thought by many to be the bracken of the Northern Hemisphere it is in fact native to parts of Southeast Asia, the Islands, Australia and New Zealand and is easily distinguished from its northern cousin by its more delicate foliage. It is a fairly robust plant which grows from underground rhizomes and spreads quickly in disturbed ground to the extent that it can quickly become a serious pest. As can be seen in the photograph the frond are upright and are triangular when fully open. It is said that this species is less toxic to stock than other species but can still prove detrimental if eaten over long periods. Rhizomes are reputed to be edible. NZPCN-Pteridium esculentum bracken