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.

Crustacea Crustacea are a diverse group of animals with at least 65000 species worldwide but here at the estuary there are less than twenty to be found. While some are residents, many are washed up after storms or arrive hitching a lift on either debris or seaweed. Most are free-living in either freshwater or a marine environment but one group, the familiar slater or woodlouse are terrestrial (land) based. Other species include crabs, crayfish, shrimps and barnacles. More information on Crustacea can be found on the following links here and 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. Tunnelling Mud Crab Titan Acorn Barnacle

Slender Clubrush Isolepis cernua Native. Not threatened. Routinely found in estuarine situations, this species is adaptable and can also be found in freshwater and brackish wetland environments with little or no saline component. This wee rush appears to be fruiting much of the year, losing the head only for the winter. It can be found on both sides of the river of the Ramsar site. In the Dune Garden, this species appeared around 2020, and spread widely across the wetland area within two years and is now an abundant species. Very widespread on a global scale being found throughout Australasia, Europe, Africa and North and South America. NZPCN-Isolepis cernua iNaturalist-Isolepis cernua

Kekeno/New Zealand Fur Seal Arctocephalus forsteri Native. Not threatened. In recent years, at least one adult can be viewed fairly frequently in the vicinity of the boat club, either swimming close to shore or sleeping on the rocks. At certain times of the year, usually from May to September when pups start to be weaned from their mothers, they may come ashore and are more frequently being seen at Foxton Beach. They are usually just resting so advisable to leave them alone but if unsure consult DoC fact sheet for advice. Males are larger than females and are polygamous, mating with numerous females, Pups are born nine months after mating. Small fish and squid comprise the main elements of their diet, but larger fish will also be taken, and this is where conflict between humans and seals can arise with some being caught in nets. More details can be found on the DoC factsheet New Zealand Fur Seal fact.

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.

It is well known that Aotearoa New Zealand has a disproportionate number of introduced species and that many of them have become a serious problem around the estuary. Efforts are being made to control and eradicate them, but it is a continuous battle that needs constant effort to keep on top of it. Click on the pictures below to go to some of the current information on work that is being done around the estuary. Pest Fauna Pest Plants

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