New Zealand Celery Apium prostratum var.filiforme Native. Not threatened. A delicate variant of the more common Sea Celery and as the name implies it is edible, but you’d need a fair amount to make an impression in a meal. It is one of the few species that can live in the lower story of the dense jungle Oioi creates in estuaries, which is mostly where you’ll find it in the salt marsh areas of the estuary. A mainly prostrate, sprawling plant of coastal and lowland environments but occasionally montane regions. Common on rock ledges, boulder falls, cliff faces, in peaty turf, salt-marshes, within estuaries, on mud banks, around brackish ponds, and lagoons. Also found in freshwater systems along streams and rivers and in wet hollows. iNaturalist-Apium prostratum filiforme NZPCN-Apium prostratum prostratum var filiforme

Piripiri/Biddy-biddy Acaena novae-zelandiae Native. Not threatened. This member of the rose family is common throughout the Ramsar dunes, in both wet and dry locations, it is also found in a few locations in the saltmarsh areas of the estuary. Known around the rest of the world as the weed from New Zealand it has been classified as a noxious weed in many countries, being capable of growing in a wide variety of habitats ranging from coastal to alpine regions. Their natural distribution, besides Aotearoa New Zealand is Australia and New Guinea. It has been introduced into the United Kingdom and is now classified as an invasive species there. Anyone who has been tramping is familiar with the success of Biddy-biddy’s burrs in propagating the species. The inflorescence (group of flowers arranged on a stem) contains up to a hundred flowers, each with four hooked barbs. Apart from clothing, they are dispersed by, not only livestock, but any wind-blown vegetation that they can attach themselves too. iNaturalist-Acaena novae-zelandiae nzpcn-Acaena novae-zelandiae

Harakeke/New Zealand Flax Phormium tenax Endemic. Not threatened. Very much a dune wetland species, it is currently a small factor in the Dune Garden suite of plants but over time it may play a bigger role as one of the successor plants in the evolution of dune wetlands. On a broader note, it is an abundant species throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, associated with damp areas but is also commonly planted in gardens and is in abundance around Foxton. Foxton has a rich history associated with this plant, from early times right through to the present, although not so much now but there is still a museum dedicated to the history of its uses, principally its fibre. There is not a website, but details can be found here and also a brief history within this site . Flowers grow on spikes and as they age, seeds pods develop. 2024 was a mast year with most plants flowering at the same time and producing abundant seed. NZPCN-Phormium tenax

Shore Cotula Leptinella dioica Endemic. Not threatened. Generally uncommon in the Manawatū Estuary, at time of writing there is a healthy patch toward the spit off the end of the Dawick Street platform, and a few small patches on the south bank. The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network entry suggests it has a long flowering season from October to June but here at the estuary it seems to bloom for only a brief period in early summer. Flowers can be either green or yellow but it is the leaves which are a distinctive feature of this plant. They are variable but mostly elongated, fleshy with cuts or lobes and either light green, green, blue-green or wine red in colour. NZPCN-Leptinella dioica iN aturalist-Leptinella dioica

Goosefoot Oxybasis ambigua Native. At risk-declining. This species can be found in a few estuaries on this coast, including at a few points in the Manawatū Estuary, but since it is a seasonal plant, you’re best off seeking it in the summer half of the year. It is a succulent member of the family of saltbushes. The profuse quantity of seeds produced are dispersed by both wind and water. Distribution is patchy in the Southern Hemisphere but extensive, taking in Chile, Easter Island, the Australian states of New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia plus both North and South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. NZPCN-Oxybasis ambigua iNaturalist-Oxybasis ambigua

Tara/White-fronted Tern Sterna striata Endemic. At risk-declining. The White-fronted Tern may be seen on the beach or the mudflats. It hunts for fish in coastal waters or a short distance further out. White-fronted Terns are a medium-sized tern with a black cap on the crown and nape which is separated from the black beak by a strip of white. In non-breeding plumage there is more white between the beak and cap. The upperparts are grey, and the lower parts white. The long tail is white and forked. Frequently, towards the end of the summer/beginning of autumn a number of juveniles can be seen which are probably from the breeding colony at Waika nae. Frequently seen either perched on the beach or actively hunting for fish which they catch by diving into the water. nzbirdsonline-White-fronted Tern caspian tern Taranui/Caspian Tern Sterna caspia Native. Threatened-nationally vulnerable. This is by far the largest species of tern to be seen at the estuary, and with a wingspan of a metre makes it similar in size to the Black-backed Gull. It is a large, stocky tern weighing as much as 780gms with a black cap that touches the beak when in breeding plumage, with a slight crest. The legs and feet are black, while the heavy beak is conspicuously red. Upperparts are grey and the underparts white. In flight the lower side of some of the primary wing feathers look black. In non-breeding plumage the black cap may be flecked with white. When feeding the Caspian Tern flies along over the water, 5 to 10 m up, looking down into the water to search for fish. On spotting one, it plunges down in a dive and enters the water briefly. Food is consumed while in flight. nzbirdsonline-Caspian Tern

Ramsar In 2004 the Manawatū Estuary Trust supported the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society’s (now Forest and Bird) application to list the Manawatū Estuary under the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is a treaty signed by over 150 countries wherein they agree to be part of international cooperation regarding the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. Original application document Map depicting Ramsar boundary In July 2005, the Manawatū Estuary was listed under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar site no. 1491). The map opposite outlines the extent of the site but exact borders remain fluid because of environmental and other factors. Dotted lines represent the Ramsar site but other area are included and are noted in the legend. Achieving Ramsar status was a large step forward towards protecting the Manawatū Estuary for the future and although many people and organisations contributed to its Ramsar status, it was one person in particular, Joan Leckie, that was the main driving force behind that achievement, and her enthusiasm and passion can't be over-estimated. In the Winter 2025 issue of Forest and Bird Magazine there is an article on Joan and coverage of the unveiling of the 2025-35 Plan. At the time of its designation as a Ramsar site, Aotearoa New Zealand had only 5 throughout the country but with this and a subsequent on in the Wairarapa there are now seven, details of which are given via a link at the bottom of this page. An excellent introduction to this special site has been produced by Arnim Littek and is available to view and download by clicking the picture opposite. The Manawatū Estuary Ramsar site borders the townships of Foxton and Foxton Beach in close proximity, with all of the advantages and disadvantages this brings. At only 200 hectares it is the smallest of Aotearoa New Zealand's seven Ramsar sites but is unique in the fact that the townships of Foxton and Foxton Beach are in such close proximity with all the problems that may arise from this. The Manawatū Estuary Management Team (MEMT) meet every six months to discuss various aspects associated with the area. This comprises of representatives from the three statutory agencies, being the Department of Conservation, Horizons Regional Council and Horowhenua District Council, with local iwi, Forest and Bird, Manawatu Estuary Trust and Wildlife Foxton Trust and interested local residents from within the region. This enthusiastic group meet every six months to update on what has been achieved and plan for the forth-coming 6 months. For those wanting to know more about this special place, a number of documents are produced in the form of Estuary Management Plans and Ramsar Site Information Sheets (RIS). In November 2024 the first newsletter produced by the Manawatū Estuary Management Team became available and listed below, along with subsequent issues. Links to these, along with other documents which may be of interest are listed below. Ramsar Information Sheets (RIS) are published periodically to document changes made to any aspect of the area. Each contain much information about the estuary and are listed below. May 2005. The original RIS. April 2023. Current update on Ramsar Website. There have been two complete Management Plans produced and a third is currently being worked on which will be more comprehensive in nature. An incomplete attempted at another plan (2013-2023) is also linked below for reference. The original 2007-2012 plan is available here . A plan was started but remained unfinished. It aimed to cover 2013-2023 is available here for reference only. The current plan for 2015-2025 is available here with the final draft and associated information for the 2025-2035 plan available here . A brief introduction to the Manawatū Estuary is given on the Ramsar Information page with additional references to research previously undertaken. A map is also included. In addition, a report by the Department of Conservation is submitted to the triennial (three yearly) Conference of Parties (COP), the latest report (15) is linked here . Click English link from opened page. Each prospective Ramsar wetland site has to fit a set of criteria to be designated, and these guidelines are set out in detail in the guide produced by the Department of Conservation in their National Guidelines for the Assessment of Potential Ramsar Wetlands in New Zealand. More detailed information on Ramsar and its work can be had from their Website. Information and location, including map, of all seven Ramsar sites in Aotearoa New Zealand can be viewed here . Click on locator tab to see more information on each site. Ramsar Monument on the esplanade by the wharf and boating club Depicted on this stone monument is Papa Ngaio, the taniwha (water guardian). Resembling a tuna (eel) it is said to have only one eye and is charged with keeping the river clean. It is a fitting symbol of what people hope for the future of the river and estuary.

Tūturiwhatu/Spur-winged Plover Vanellus miles novaehollandiae Native. Not threatened. A self-introduced species from Australia, it is now firmly established and widespread here. A stocky, noisy bird with a quarrelsome nature and raucous voice, it is a familiar bird around the estuary. General plumage colour is grey brown above with white underparts, black cap and shoulders plus distinctive yellow wattles. Nests are built in open habitats near wetland areas or in grassland. Each clutch has 3-4 eggs which hatch in around a month. Young leave the nest shortly after hatching and gain independence at 6-7 weeks. They consume a wide variety of food ranging from worms, insects to molluscs and crustacea. nzbirdsonline-Spur-winged Plover

Mostly known to the public from finds under driftwood, in fact the majority of katipo live in native dune vegetation that has evolved to thrive in moving sand, eg. Kowhangatara , Pingao , Autetaranga or Taataraheke. Because of this, katipō are a good indicator of the state of health of a dune system, like a coal miner's canary. These four posters were produced by Arnim Littek for the 2025 Coastal Restoration Trust Annual Conference. Clicking on each will open a larger version on a separate page. Katipō Latrodectus katipo Endemic. At risk-declining. Katipō is an endangered, endemic species. It is also absolutely protected under the Wildlife Act. Its habitat is almost exclusively sand dune systems, through much of coastal Aotearaoa New Zealand, except the south of the South Island. Closely related to the Australian redback, they can interbreed to a degree, which is a problem since redbacks have already made homes in several locations in this country. Katipō come in two varieties. North of a line across the middle of the North Island, one finds predominantly black katipō South of that line one finds only the more well-known red katipō with a prominent red stripe on their abdomen. Sexual dimorphism is high - males are substantially smaller than females, and have a prominent white component in their coloration, as do juvenile females. Spiderlings are almost completely white. Both adult female red and black katipō can have other coloration than the abdominal stripe, but equally, often they have little or none. A black katipō with no coloration is difficult to discern from an all-black false katipō - the diagnostic criterion in this extreme case is the eye spacing. These enigmatic spiders are resident in the Dune Garden . More information can be found on iNaturalist here. Sutton, M.E., Christensen, B.R. and Hutchenson, J.A. 2006. Field Identification of Katipo . DoC Research and Development Series 237. wolf spider Seashore Wolf Spider Anoteropsis literalis Endemic. At risk-naturally uncommon. Nearly thirty species of wolf spiders are found throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, many being widespread and inhabiting a wide variety of landscapes such as woodlands and gardens. Three species are recorded from the estuary. The Seashore Wolf Spider however, has more specialised requirements and is found in sandy areas around the coast. It is well adapted to life as a solitary hunter being extremely well camouflaged as can be seen in the adjoining photograph. Adults are reported to be nocturnal but are easily disturbed while young are said to be active during the day. The round, silken egg sac is carried around by the female and once hatched young are reputed to be carried around for a period of time before they leave and go their own separate ways. iNaturalist-Seashore Wolf Spider Nursery web Nursery Web Spider Dolomedes minor Endemic. Not threatened. Although a widespread species throughout Aotearoa New Zealand it is rarely seen in the flesh as it is nocturnal, spending most of the day in hiding amongst foliage. What appears to be a mass of web wrapped around the top of bushes is the first sign of their presence and it in these that the female lays her eggs which she guards until they hatch and for a short while afterwards until they disperse. A photograph appears on the beach mysteries page. Unlike many spiders all Dolomedes species, of which there are around 300 species worldwide, hunt prey rather than build a web to catch flying insects Wikipedia-Dolomedes minor

Huahou/Lesser Knot Calidrus canutus Native. At risk-declining. Frequently called Red Knot but a more appropriate name for Aotearoa New Zealand is Lesser Knot. The red refers to their breeding plumage which they acquire for their Arctic stay but arrive here in their non-breeding colouration of grey for our summer. They are best seen from the Dawick Street viewing platform at high tide, roosting on the sandspit, and can also be seen feeding on the mudflats at low tide. By mid-summer they may number several hundred. Lesser Knot are a stocky, nondescript shorebird that can be mistaken for other, rarer migrants. It is a plump bird with short, dull green legs and a short, heavy, straight black bill. General plumage is grey brown above, with pale feather edges that clearly mark the individual feathers, and has pale grey underparts with some markings on the flanks. In breeding plumage it has a rusty-red neck, head, and breast. A gregarious species, it is often seen in flocks but where there are only a few individuals, a group may roost with other species, especially Bar-tailed Godwits. It feeds on the mudflats at the tide line, drilling rapidly into the mud in search of invertebrates with a motion rather like that of a sewing machine needle, probing as they move around. nzbirdsonline-Lesser Knot

Over time this section will include content that will point readers to areas of research that has either been completed or projects that are in progress. It will also include sections on how and where to record sightings and areas where identification of species can be found or questions asked. This page is still under development but please feel free to contact the developer via the submission form under the Support MET tab with any additional groups or sites that you feel should be included. With global warming and the more expansive movements of some animals and plants that seems to be occurring, recording programs which, at the moment seem not to be relevant to the area are included as they may be in the future, bearing in mind that in the past couple of years Sea Turtles and Sea Snakes have been found on local beaches and in December 2023 a Hector's/Maui Dolphin was seen off the coast. RECORDING SITES Links are included but may take on the form of a logo rather than the standard method adopted throughout the rest of the website. Registration is required and once this is done, the easiest way to get started is to click on the submit button, then using the "find it on a map" section, locate the recording site and give it a name. This will then be registered and can be found from your drop-down list on that page. Press continue and what follows is self-explanatory. This is a global database and can be used to enter sightings from anywhere in the world, also allowing species to be searched for with location lists giving an idea of what species.are in an area that may be of interest. Full user tutorial . Again, this is a global database in which records can be entered from anywhere in the world. It also allows you to search for species and location lists. Registration is required but is fairly straight forward. Once done, open site and click add observation and follow instructions, Once this is done entries can be made, ideally with a photograph as this then allows verification of the species if needed. Add as much information as possible. The estuary is a very important area for migrating birds and over the years much research has been done on these global travelers, many of which have covered over a hundred thousand kilometers in their lifetime. New technology is now being used to track these birds but can't be applied to all because of the expense involved. For many years metal bands have been used, inscribed with a unique number and the banding scheme to which the details are related to, in the case of Aotearoa New Zealand it is the Department of Conservation. More recently colour bands of various types are applied to birds' legs. Where metal banded birds really need to be caught again to be read with certainty, coloured bands can be read in the field and submitted to DoC on the sightings form which lists all the information required and how to read the band layout correctly. The estuary is an ideal place to participate but please take a photograph if you can and submit along with sightings form. Limited details are given under a separate heading on the birds page. After a major weather event the group of animals most likely to be affected are sea birds, species that live most of their lives on the open ocean, only coming ashore to breed. Individuals can be washed up on beaches and although, most are dead, they can still provide valuable data so please record fatalities via Seabird Beach Patrol Scheme. Identification can, in some case, be made by shape of the bill which is quite distinctive in many species. Thank to Birds NZ four identification cards ( no.1 no.2 no.3 no.4 ) are available here. These can be downloaded and laminated or photographs taken for later reference but please record. If a band is present please record on the form listed above. A tagging program operates for New Zealand Sea Lions and while they are mostly restricted to the lower South Island they are becoming more numerous with reports of individuals wandering further afield so keep an eye out for any plastic flipper tags if you are lucky enough to see one. Other means of tracking are employed but are used only by professionals with the right equipment. Remember the safety guidelines of not approaching closer than 10 m but photographs can be taken and enlarged on a computer which will help with reading the number. Details can be recorded on Sea Lion Tags which also has heaps of other interesting information. The Sea Lion Trust is also a good general website. ARDS is the Amphibian and Reptile Distribution Scheme administered by DoC to plot distribution and occurrence of these species that are reported from Aotearoa New Zealand. Frogs (endemic and introduced), Geckos, Skinks, Tuatara, Sea Snakes and Sea Turtles are included, and data can be found on the atlas via a drop-down list of over a hundred species with both common and scientific names given for easy location. Each species contains data and a map, which unfortunately gives a location and not actual sites where recorded. Difficult with common species but for sparsely recorded species such as Sea Snakes and Sea Turtles specific locations would have been good. A recording form for observations is given here . Found exclusively in certain coastal waters around the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, Māui Dolphin is the world's smallest and rarest dolphin, with an estimated 65 individuals left in the wild. Hector's Dolphin is very similar and found mainly around the South Island with a few stragglers making it further north. Both being the only dolphins in Aotearoa New Zealand to have a rounded dorsal fin so both are easily identifiable as a species and because of their rarity any sightings should be recorded. This can be done using a link via this page which also contains other valuable information and links. See Mammals for reporting other whale and dolphin sightings. FACEBOOK GROUPS Many Facebook groups have been set up to cover a wide range of subjects, mainly on a national basis but are included because they could be relevant to the area and are a useful platform to upload photographs onto if you want an identification. Likewise, many national conservation organisations have posts which are also worth seeing. As such, listed below are a number of sites but please use the search tool on Facebook to check them out - some you need to join before being able to open but each will explain. None are included as links as an extra security safeguard, and it is up to the individual to make the choice. Manawatū Estuary Trust Wildlife Foxton Trust Forest and Bird New Zealand Native Orchids New Zealand Bird Identification Insects and Invertebrates of New Zealand Native Plants of Aotearoa (New Zealand) New Zealand Garden Bird Survey New Zealand Lizard Identification Mushrooms of New Zealand New Zealand Birders Wildlife of New Zealand The New Zealand Epiphyte Network Fernbirds Orca Watch New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority NZ Cetacean Spotting NZ - Whale and Dolphin Watch New Zealand Bittern Conservation New Zealand Nature New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Watch - Wellington Godwits New Zealand Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust species list FOXTON BEACH/ESTUARY SPECIES LIST Most records that are available just give Foxton Beach as a location but an iNaturalist Manawatū Estuary Ramsar site has been set up to record species with all having at least one photograph to identify it. The full Excel spreadsheet list has been split and is now linked via the introduction page.to that sections species list but please bare in mind that they are far from complete and still a work in progress that needs peer reviewing. It is included as an excel file for people to have a look at and get an idea of how valuable an area this is. There are notations in some area for further research which will be followed up at some point. There are still species to classify correctly (and to add) and arrange so please take at face value but contact me via the form under the Support MET tab if you have any comments. Up-dates will be added as and when but feel free to download.

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 Manawatū 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