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

Rauparaha/Shore Bindweed Calystegia soldanella Native. Not threatened. This native convulvulus graces the Dune Garden, both dry dunes and dune wetland areas but is generally a widespread species being also found in the temperate climates of both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. It is a low growing plant with fleshy green, glossy leaves. Pink and white, trumpet-shaped flowers grace the summer half of the year. An annual, it disappears almost completely in the winter, to start afresh in the spring. Small dune hollows are often filled with the black seeds which have rolled downhill from the plants. Roots are quite fleshy and penetrate deep into the sand and it is this that aids their survival as they are able to propagate from root fragments. NZPCN-Calystegia soldanella iNaturalist-Calystegia soldanella

Many thanks to Jonathon Gribble for allowing use of photograph and Horizons for producing the map. The population status of Fernbirds is now on the increase due in part to concentrated pest control efforts which has allowed birds to be re-introduced to areas that previously held populations. The closest being Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve where, with a little effort, they are relatively easy to observe. It is a success story for pest control and relocations. A population is present at Fernbird Flats, and there is a robust pest control regime in the area. A brief survey carried out by Horizons in March 2025 reported good numbers. A total of 36 birds were detected in a series of 5 minute counts. A comprehensive survey is planned for spring 2025 so an accurate assessment of the entire population can be made. More often seen than heard it is a fairly drab brown speckled bird with a long tail which, because of its preferred habitat of wetland scrub is unlikely to be confused with any other species. Distribution is throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, including some of the islands but is a little patchy and their abundance, or otherwise is governed by suitable habitat being available. Wetland and surrounding areas have been much reduced in recent times, but it is hoped the interest in reversing this trend will benefit the species recovery. Diet consists mainly of insects but occasionally some seed and berries. nzbirdsonline-Fernbird Mātātā/New Zealand Fernbird Poodytes punctatus Endemic. At risk-declining. The Fernbird is one of the estuaries special birds that has a limited but concentrated distribution at the estuary The main population being at the aptly named Fernbird Flats which is an out of the way area that is relatively undisturbed. 2025 Mātātā/Fernbird monitoring – Manawatū Estuary Annual monitoring for Mātātā/Fernbird was conducted on the 09 December 2025. It was an excellent day for monitoring, with perfect, still sunny conditions. Monitoring was undertaken by Zoë Stone (Horizons Regional Council) and four volunteers – Dave Coles (Wildlife Foxton Trust) and Leah Lee, Kirsten Olsen and Stephen Legg from the Manawatū branch of Birds NZ. Two transects were monitored on Fernbird flats, starting at 7:30am. Along each transect, a 5-minute bird count was conducted every 100m, where we listened for 5 minutes and counted all heard and seen Mātātā. This was the 2nd year of monitoring, and a good number of Mātātā were observed. In total, 54 individuals were recorded during 1 ½ hrs of surveying. A highlight of the morning was a nest observation. The chicks could be heard calling hidden in a salt-marsh ribbonwood bush Plagianthus divaricatus , and the parents were seen carrying food and debris to/away from nest. On average 2.45 Mātātā were recorded per 5-minute bird count across both transects. Last year (2024) monitoring was only conducted along Transect 1, with an average of 2.7 Mātātā per count. This year, transect 1 had 3.5 mātātā per count. With only 2 years’ worth of data, it is still too early to assess the population trend. However, the good detection of birds this year may suggest the population is at least stable. Tabón, Emilio. 2005. Population Survey of the North Island Fernbird in the Manawatū Estuary. A Report Presented to the Friends of Mana Island.

Tātaraheke/Sand Coprosma Coprosma acerosa Endemic. At risk-declining. Rapidly becoming a scarce species and now classified as threatened. Primarily found in dry dunes around Aotearoa New Zealand and on this coast, it is often found growing in dune wetland areas too. The Dune Garden area is routinely home to new seedlings, both in the dry dunes and the wetland area. Male and female flowers are visibly different with the latter producing fruit, sometimes copiously, with a refreshing taste. The colour of the fruit varies from a bland white to a striking blue. Reclamation, competition from Marram Grass Ammophila arenaria and browsing by lagomorphs (Rabbits and Hares) are some of the main causes of decline but responds well when both these threats are controlled. NZPCN-Sand Coprosma iNaturalist-Sand Coprosma

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 here. Birds Fish Plants Mammals Crusta cea Spiders Molluscs Beach Mysteries Beetles Fungi, Mosses and Lichens Other marine species Invertebrates Amphibians and Reptiles Ferns

Fish Almost half of the fish species occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand are diadromous, meaning that they regularly migrate between fresh and salt water. This makes estuaries an important highway for these fish. Five species of threatened fish have been seen in the catchment: Longfin Eel, Giant Kōkopu , Shortjaw Kōkopu, Mudfish, and Lamprey. The first three probably use the estuary for feeding and during migration. Whitebait probably spawns in the estuary and recreational whitebaiters use the estuary. Black Flounder, Estuarine Star Gazer, Grey Mullet, and Kahawai are present, along with other coastal fish. There are regulations surrounding some aspect of taking fish for recreational purposes with a link to White-baiting on their page. General fishing rules are searchable on the MPI recreational fisheries page. 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 the web. Kuwharuwharu Tuna/Longfin Eel Whitebait Giant Kokopu

nzbirdsonline-R oyal Spoonbill Kōtuku ngutupapa/Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia Native. At risk-naturally uncommon. With its distinctive long black, spoon-shaped beak and all white plumage they are an easily recognised bird around the Estuary. They have a really noticeable yellow patch above the eye and at the onset of the breeding season both sexes develop a head crest. Originally hailing from Australia, Kōtuku ngutupapa/Royal Spoonbills like many waterbirds are quite mobile and were first recorded in Aotearoa New Zealand in 1861. From then they have spread slowly throughout the country. Between four and ten birds are seen in the estuary during winter months. The highest ever recorded total of 58 being observed in 1993 which, at the time was believed to be the largest in the country. Nesting in the region has not been confirmed but they were suspected to have bred in the Whirikino swamp area during 1945. Diet consists of small fish, crabs and aquatic invertebrates which they locate by sweeping their beak from side to side as they walk along in the shallows. A survey in 2012 recorded 2361 birds while the one conducted on 6th July 2024 recorded 4547, confirming suspected increase .

Whitebait Galaxias sp. Whitebait is the collective name for the juvenile stage of five species of fish of the genus Galaxias . The most frequently caught of the five, Inanaga G. maculata has a wide distribution reaching as far as Argentina but listed as declining in Aorearoa New Zealand. Kōaro G. brevipennis is also found in Australia while the Banded G. fasciata , Giant G. argeneus and Shortjaw Kōkopu G. postvectus .are found nowhere else other than in Aotearoa New Zealand. Whitebait are caught as they start their migration up-stream. As a group they are fascinating with a diverse lifestyle, much of which is covered in a fun Whitebait activity book produced by the Department of Conservation and available here for download. They are a much-loved source of food which are caught in nets over a brief period each year. Current regulations can be found here . Wikipedia - Whitebait Find, protect and create inanga spawning habitat is an informative guide produced by the Department of Conservation covering all aspects of protecting and enhancing spawning grounds for this important species. Whitebait Connection is a nationwide environmental education programme that empowers communities, landowners and schools to explore, understand, and protect freshwater ecosystems. It focuses on native freshwater fish, particularly whitebait species, and teaches participants about their life cycles, habitats, and threats. Through hands-on learning, stream studies, and restoration projects, it encourages kaitiakitanga and community action to improve waterway health and supports the survival of these taonga species. M.J. Taylor. 2002 . The National Inanga Spawning Database: Trends and Implications for Spawning Site Management. Department of Conservation Science for Conservation no. 188

Smooth Willowherb Epilobium billardiereanum Native. Not threatened. As one of a few native species of Epilobium , it is the only native willowherb present in the Dune Garden, and then not always. This annual species comes and goes, like a few others. It thrives with lots of water, so may never be a big factor in the Dune Garden. Mainly a coastal species growing on damp sand or sandy ground close to slow moving steams, ponds and lakes. Although it favours sparse vegetated areas it is frequently found in association with several species of reeds and sedges. It is a tall plant reaching almost a metre tall in some places with tiny pink flowers but it is the seed pods which are quite distinctive as they are long cylindrical structures which, when ripe, split open to reveal the seeds. Attached to these seeds are a number of fine white hair-like parachutes which give the plant a "fluffy" look. These are used to help disperse seeds by wind. Over forty species of willowherb are found in Aotearoa New Zealnd, many of which are found nowhere else. This species is also to be found in Australia. iNaturalist-Smooth Willowherb NZPCN-Epilobium billardiereanum

History The Manawatū Estuary (or Foxton Estuary) lies on the western edge of the Manawatū Plains. Situated in the Horowhenua district of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. The first inhabitants of the area were Māori who probably arrived in the fourteenth century, travelling along the coast and then using the Manawatū River to move into the hinterland. They were likely moa hunters, and archaeological remains have been found at sites on the dunes. The fertile floodplain and the presence of the river, which could provide both food and a highway, made the area attractive to settlers. By tradition the name of the river was given to it by Haunui, who travelled along the west coast of the lower North Island in search of his wife and named most of the rivers in the area. In the 1820s Te Rauparaha led a successful invasion into the Manawatū by Waikato tribes and new tribes took ownership of the area. Part of the reason for this move was to be nearer Wellington and Kapiti where local Māori were trading with the newcomer Europeans to gain fascinating and useful things like muskets. The principal white settlement in the area was established at Paiaka in 1844, with a small trading center set up there to take advantage of the small schooners that were at the time sailing between Wellington and North Island west coast rivers. The first traders at Paiaka and Shannon traded mostly for flax from the Māori, which was sent to Sydney. The Kebbell brothers set up a flax mill in Paiaka in 1842, sending loads of local goods from their jetty to Wellington on small coastal ships. This was only the first of many mills, as flax was an important resource, used for making rope, cordage, and cloth in the years before artificial fibres were available. Ships were the only real way of getting cargoes to and from the area, since most of the land was covered in a thick blanket of bush and there were no roads. The west coast of the North Island has no natural harbours but a rich alluvial plain hinterland, and the rivers were used as transport into the central areas. The Estuary was an important means for all this water travel. The beach has always been used as a roadway by both locals and passers-through. The stagecoach travelled along the beach between Wellington and Wanganui from the 1840s, initially making an overnight stop at the ferry house at the mouth of the river but moving this stop up into Foxton around 1886. After the destruction of Paiaka in 1855 by an earthquake the settlers moved downstream to Te Awahou, where there were already a shop and hotel set up (the area had been occupied since 1842 by Captain Robinson), and the place was renamed Foxton in the 1860s after Sir William Fox, with the settlement’s centre being Cook’s store and jetty. Between 1840 and 1863 schooners were used for river transport, but by 1863 they had been replaced by steamers. The first steamer crossed the Manawatū bar in 1860 and took cargo 27 miles upstream. In the 1860s the Crown began buying Manawatū land from the Māori. In the Manawatū, unlike further north, this was a fairly amicable process despite some debate over whether the land was owned by the tribes who had recently invaded or the subject tribes who had been there longer. The 1870s saw the beginning of serious colonisation of the Manawatū area and was a busy time for Foxton as a port, for the sea was then the best and easiest way to transport goods and people to the Manawatū region. In 1872 the river was so busy that a pilot was assigned developing to be permanently on duty at the Heads to see ships over the dangerous bar; his duties also included making sure the river was cleared for shipping as far upriver as Paiaka. Vessels up to 20 ton register were capable of going as far upriver as Ngawhakarau while river canoes could supply transport up to the Papaioea clearing (which later became Palmerston North). During this decade a tramway was built that linked Foxton and Palmerston North (and was later converted into a railway) and roads and rails began to link the Manawatū with places like Wellington and Wanganui. Flax was always the most important of the trading goods being taken out of Foxton, and for many years Foxton was synonymous with flax in New Zealanders' minds. While the forest was being cleared on the plains, there was also a temporary boom in the timber trade. Around 1881 trade began to drop off and shipping at the port dropped. Although Foxton had initially been the largest town in the area, by 1880 Palmerston North had outstripped it; Foxton, with its port, was useful, but now that the central areas of the region were being opened up there was more scope for farming in the hinterland. Foxton’s sandy soil was not good for agriculture. In the 1880s there was a depression that put a halt to several government projects, including a partly completed railway between Wellington and the Manawatū that had been planned to go through Foxton and would have cemented the town’s importance in the district. A group of businessmen annoyed by the delay chose to fund the construction themselves, but since they owned land in the Palmerston North area the planned track was diverted to run through Palmerston North and bypassed Foxton in 1886, to the great annoyance of Foxton residents. The presence of the railway lessened the need for the port, making it no longer the only way to get bulk goods out of the region, and since Foxton lacked any other important features, this made it harder for the town to grow. The late 1880s saw a short-lived flax boom that briefly allowed Foxton to once again grow and function as a bustling port. By 1888 the recently extended wharf was host to regular and diverse shipping and river traffic was also increased. In 1889 it was quite common to see two or more steamers docked together at the wharf and by October the port was dealing with record tonnages. Visiting ships were also becoming larger, but with the increasing draughts the Manawatū bar was becoming a greater problem and although smaller ships could come in on one high tide and come out on the next, larger ships often had to wait. The flax boom once again faded in 1890 and shipping dropped away. At the start of the twentieth century Foxton Beach began to be seen as a holiday spot and bachs began to occupy the area that had previously hosted a hotel and stagecoach post and the pilot's station. A third flax boom, beginning in 1898, was the most lasting and saw another increase in shipping, with three or four steamers berthed together at the wharf being an unexceptional sight and over ten steamers making regular visits. In 1902 plant growth for the flax trade was stimulated via drainage of swamplands and in 1903 the Moutoa Estate, a wetland area [10km] upstream of Foxton, was developed as the main supply of flax, leading to the creation of a fleet of river launches that towed punts loaded high with flax. By 1908 problems with river silting and bar strandings meant that coastal shipping was avoiding Foxton. By 1916 there were only two ships coming into the port. Although shipping continued in a desultory fashion for the next while, by 1942 Foxton had ceased to function as a port. The collapse of the flax boom in 1919 meant that people in the Foxton area turned from flax growing to farming and started draining the wetlands that had provided flax for so long. But farms are much more prone to flooding and with the loss of forest cover in the hills and on the plains flooding was greatly increased and more severe, leading to the creation of stopbanks, floodgates, and the Whirokino Cut. The Whirokino Cut, completed in 1943 as part of the Lower Manawatū Flood Control Scheme, was meant to be a spillway but an unexpected flood cut through and cut off the Foxton loop of the river, meaning that the Foxton harbour could no longer function as a harbour and causing a huge amount of anger amongst the locals. The Foxton Loop that runs alongside Foxton today used to be a part of the main river but now the upstream end isn’t connected to the river and there is only a tidal flow in the loop. In 1959 the railway stopped running and now all transport to the estuary is via road. The shape of the estuary itself is constantly changing. The river mouth is being pushed south because of the predominantly westerly ocean swell and west-northwest winds. The coastline itself is growing at a rate of about half a metre a year, and in the last 6,500 years has grown about 4km, so that the area on which Foxton Beach stands was under water not that long ago. There has probably been an estuary in the region of Foxton for the last 5,000 years; this is a short life in geological terms, but New Zealand estuaries are no older than 6,500 years, formed by rising sea levels at that time. At the moment the mouth of the estuary is migrating south at a rate of at least 15m a year (under constant conditions), forming a sandspit on its north side. During floods this sandspit is eroded and the river mouth moves back north. Without human intervention (in the form of stopbanks along the Foxton Beach township) the river would eventually punch its way back northward, cutting off the current river mouth, and then started working its way back south. 150 years ago, the area of Foxton Beach was either directly on the river bank or under the river. The creation of the Whirokino Cut has also altered the shape of the estuary, and by changing the direction of the water it has changed where the river bends are eroding. Fernbird Flat has altered in shape and size in the last 50 years, becoming longer and larger. The Waitarere Forest block is being eroded away: the river has encroached into it so that between 1980 and 2003 the riverbank shifted 300m and 40 hectares of land was lost into the river with a corresponding growth in the Fernbird Flat.

Pest Fauna It is a well-known fact that Aotearoa New Zealand has a disproportionate number of introduced animal species, many of which are detrimental to the survival of native wildlife. Many species, such as rodents (rats and mice) and mustelids (weasels, stoats and ferrets) are well documented and present around this area. This page will introduce some of these species, plus others that are not so well known. Brief introductions and a list of organisations where these can be reported will be included, as are some control methods. iNaturalist has a list of exotic species for the Ramsar site but this is a little vague in terms of information. Best to search for the individual species in this link . Before commencing any trapping of Mustelids, Rats or Possums please consult Department of Conservation booklet Practical Guide to Trapping 3rd edition. One of the most comprehensive coverages of what is required to start and expand a successful pest control program is contained in a publication by Predator Free Miramar and titled How to kill rats and engage a community . It contains a detailed account of what is needed from trap building to engaging public and everything else in-between. It is a must read. Predator Free NZ produces a series of excellent guides on the main predator species which can be viewed via this series of links. Weasel , Stoat , Ship Rat , Norway Rat and Possum. Below are listed three of the best guides to pest control. All slightly different - follow the basics but adapt to your own person situation as required. Asian Paper Wasp Polistes chinensis A common species in the area. They do sting but are not as aggressive as Vespula wasps and stings not as severe. They take a heavy toll on native insects and their nests should be destroyed as soon as they are found. Normally only small structures they can sometimes be large. First spray with a commercial fly spray and when there is no sign of wasps in the vicinity, destroy nests which will kill any remaining pupae. If Monarch Butterflies breed in your garden there will be a nest close-by. Well worth checking. possum Brush-tailed Possum Trichosurus vulpecula This serious pest of forests and gardens was introduced to Aotearoa New Zealand with a view to creating a fur trade. The first, in 1837 was unsuccessful but it was the 1858 attempt which started the colonisation of this destructive pest. While some possum fur is still used, usually combined with wool to give extra strength, it is the side effect that is being felt now. Possums are now trapped extensively to try to eradicate them. Wildlife Foxton Trust has a trap library and loan out possum specific traps, with instructions for use in the Foxton Beach area. Enquiries via their website. wildlifefoxton.org MUSTELIDS Three species make up this most lethal suite of introduced predators that Aotearoa New Zealand has. Weasel, Stoat and Ferret are capable killers being able to decimate entire populations of native species from areas that are not protected with an eradication program. Traps and boxes can be purchased as a complete unit or separately. Boxes for these traps have a design which must be followed. The DoC 250 for stoats and ferrets and DoC 200 for weasels are the industry standard and design details can be found in this handy guide. More information is available in the three guides listed above. The video opposite was taken by Cleland Wallace for which we acknowledge his permission to use. This photograph is of a ferret and was taken on the recent Bittern Muster (survey) at Lake Omanu. Being the domesticated form of the Polecat, they tend to be more confiding than the other two species. Efforts are underway to start a trapping program in the area, an important habitat for many species of birds. Foxton Beach Predator Trapping Results With funding and assistance from Horizons Regional Council and Predator Free NZ, Wildlife Foxton Trust with the help of numerous enthusiastic volunteers administer the trapping program in the Foxton Beach area covering the estuary, woodland, farmland and around the township. Results of all this effort is beginning to show as can be seen in the graph on the TrapsNZ below.

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