Description: This coastal sand dune plant is important for stabilizing and building sand dunes by trapping wind-blown sand, which allows other native species to grow and increase biodiversity in the area. Pīkao or pīngao has been culturally important for weaving into a variety of clothing and accessory items as well as a food source. Early settlement using fire led to rapid decline of this once common species and additional development, grazing, sand mining, other introduced grasses and vehicles in dune areas contribute to its decline to only a limited number of remnant populations. Active restoration of this endemic species is underway in some areas. This map includes Research-Grade Observations (quality checked) from iNaturalist, a citizen science database, accessed May 2023. <div><br /></div><div>These locations have been verified through photo ID, though some error may remain, and this dataset does not incorporate changes over time. Data are point records, recorded by independent observers, with no systematic survey; thus, absence of a record could mean either the species is not present, or that the location has not been surveyed, but the species is present there. </div><div><br /></div><div>iNaturalist.org (2020) iNaturalist Research-grade Observations. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ab3s5x accessed via GBIF.org on 2020-04-02.</div><div>https://inaturalist.nz/</div>
Description: Estuaries and coastal wetlands are formed where rivers meet the sea. These unique and highly productive ecosystems host a variety of terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, and marine species, which vary by location and local conditions. Wetlands may also include areas further inland that are inundated with freshwater, often near rivers and lakes. Wetlands help remove sediments and excess nutrients and pollutants in addition to acting as carbon sinks and provide important habitat for many of New Zealand’s native and threatened species. These areas are also culturally and spiritually important to local iwi. Wetlands have been lost largely due to development and changes in land use, sedimentation, and pollution. This map includes distributions for over 14,000 wetlands from the Ministry for the Environment, last updated in 2018. This layer has some areas of overlap in coastal areas with the ‘Estuaries’ layer.<div><br /></div><div>This layer has some areas of overlap in coastal areas with the ‘Estuaries’ layer. Updated and more detailed regional data sets may be available and should be examined for fine scale assessments.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://data.mfe.govt.nz/layer/95347-wetland-extent-2001-16/">MfE Data Service</a></div>
Copyright Text: Ministry for the Environment, Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Description: In Aotearoa New Zealand, one species of seagrass (Zostera muelleri) is found primarily intertidally in estuaries. Subtidal seagrass has reduced substantially from its historic extent, with remnant subtidal meadows in west coast estuaries north of Auckland (e.g., Kaipara, Rangaanu) and at Slipper Island off the Coromandel Peninsula (Matheson et al. 2011). Like mangroves they also form a key biogenic habitat for a variety of marine species and provide structure and food as well as services to recycle nutrients and combat sea level rise through slowing water flow to trap, stabilize and bind marine sediments and pollutants. Seagrass can occur in small patches or large, dense meadows, where they can provide an important nursery habitat for many commercially, culturally and recreationally important species, particularly in northern, subtidal seagrass beds. Seagrass habitats are at risk due to coastal development and bottom contact such as dredging as well as declining water quality, sedimentation, and storm damage though there is evidence of recovery in some areas such as Whangarei Harbour and in many locations, seagrass meadows have expanded rapidly since 2000 (e.g., Meola Reef, Auckland region; Lundquist et al. 2018). This map shows over 6,200 sites where seagrass beds have been identified based on information from the most recent file on the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) SeaSketch project collated in collaboration with regional councils, which contains data updated in 2018 and is considered the most comprehensive dataset for New Zealand. An additional data set from Otago (Salt Ecology) is also included which provides additional seagrass location data for that region. <div><br /></div><div>Though this includes some of the most comprehensive national-scale data, there are limitations where existing data are not yet included and, in some cases, spatial extent, and seagrass density are not assessed. Changes over time also need to be monitored. Additional aerial imagery tools could assist with filling these gaps.</div><div><br /></div><div>Department of Conservation (2018). Seagrass and mangrove extent: Our estuaries (doc.govt.nz)</div><div>https://www.doc.govt.nz/seagrass-and-mangrove-extent; </div>
Copyright Text: Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai, Waikato Regional Council
Description: Saltmarshes and mangroves are the dominant vegetation in sheltered estuarine intertidal areas with salt marshes dominating in higher latitudes and mangroves dominating low latitudes with overlap in subtropical regions, such as those found in New Zealand. While mangroves are confined to the upper North Island, salt marsh vegetation is found throughout the country. In areas where both habitats occur, salt marsh vegetation is usually found at higher tidal levels fringing the estuary. Salt marsh plants are largely grasses and herbs such as sea rush, oioi and saltmarsh ribbon wood. These plants provide important habitats and food sources for both terrestrial and marine species and they provide key services to combat storm surges and sea level rise through slowing water flow to trap, stabilize and bind marine sediments and pollutants. Most of New Zealand’s estuaries and salt marshes have been altered or lost through development activities. This map shows salt marsh coverage around the country with over 9,000 areas identified from data collated in 2011 by the Department of Conservation (DOC). <div><br /></div><div>Limitations include changes over time that could be updated with new data utilizing additional aerial survey tools. Some more detailed regional data sets may not be included here and should be used for more localized assessments.</div><div><br /></div><div>Coastal marine habitats and marine protected areas in the New Zealand Territorial Sea: a broad scale gap analysis. Department of Conservation and Ministry of Fisheries. Wellington, New Zealand.</div><div><br /></div><div>https://doc-marine-data-deptconservation.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/ab9d7519a4c94f57afc89ede9e72103e_0/about</div>
Description: <div>Naturally uncommon ecosystems are those that overly contribute to national biodiversity. Several types of naturally uncommon ecosystems have been identified in New Zealand including coastal, geothermal, induced by vertebrates, inland and alpine, subterranean and semi-subterranean, and wetland categories. This map includes the following categories and subcategories:</div><div>•<span style> </span>Coastal: active sand dunes, coastal rock stacks, coastal turfs, shingle beaches</div><div>•<span style> </span>Induced by vertebrates: seabird-burrowed soils, marine mammal haulouts, seabird guano deposits</div><div>These will have overlap with several other layers, such as the Regional Significant Natural Areas, wetlands, and seabird and pinniped colony layers, but this map provides a comprehensive view of important habitats, their connectivity, and their position relative to one another. </div><div><br /></div><div>Other identified naturally uncommon ecosystems such as geothermal, inland and alpine, subterranean and semi-subterranean and wetland data are not included in this layer. A comparable layer for subtidal marine ecosystems has not yet been created.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wiser SK, Buxton RP, Clarkson BR, Hoare RJB, Holdaway RJ, Richardson SJ, Smale MC, West C, Williams PA 2013. New Zealand’s naturally uncommon ecosystems. In Dymond JR ed. Ecosystem services in New Zealand – conditions and trends. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln, New Zealand. Pp. 49–61. www.landcareresearch.co.nz/publications/naturally-uncommon-ecosystems/</div><div><br /></div><div>https://doc-marine-data-deptconservation.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/f14ff953ae154e8582e7e4329d72abe5_0/explore?filters=eyJUaXRsZSI6WyJPcmlnaW5hbGx5X3JhcmVfZWNvc3lzIl19</div>
Copyright Text: Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd.
Description: Mangroves are the dominant vegetation in sheltered estuarine intertidal areas in northern New Zealand. New Zealand mangroves (Avicennia marina), or mānawa, are found in the upper and mid-North Island, south to Ohiwa on the east coast, and Kawhia/Aotea Harbours on the west coast. These trees form a key biogenic habitat providing structure and resources for both terrestrial and marine species and they provide important services to combat storm surges and sea level rise through slowing water flow to trap, stabilize and bind marine sediments and pollutants. Mangroves provide essential habitat for many threatened or at-risk bird species. Most of New Zealand’s estuaries have been altered or lost through development activities, though increased rates of sedimentation can increase the spread of mangroves, as observed in some areas. This map shows mangroves mapped in over 2,000 sites around the North Island where they occur. This map contains data from the most recent file on the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) SeaSketch project collated in collaboration with regional councils, containing data updated in 2018 and is the most comprehensive dataset for New Zealand.<div><br /></div><div>Though this includes some of the most comprehensive national-scale data, there are limitations where existing data are not yet included and, in some cases, spatial extent, and seagrass density are not assessed. Changes over time also need to be monitored. Additional aerial imagery tools could assist with filling these gaps.</div><div><br /></div><div>Department of Conservation (2018). Seagrass and mangrove extent: Our estuaries (doc.govt.nz)</div><div><br /></div><div>Seagrass and mangrove extent: Our estuaries (doc.govt.nz); https://data.waikatoregion.govt.nz:8443/ords/f?p=140:12:0::NO::P12_METADATA_ID:1036</div>
Copyright Text: Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai, Waikato Regional Council
Description: Estuaries and coastal wetlands are formed where rivers meet the sea. These unique and highly productive ecosystems host a variety of terrestrial, freshwater, estuarine, and marine species, which vary by location and local conditions. One of the main characteristics is a gradient of salinity as freshwater and seawater meet forming brackish waters influenced by tidal flow where specialized salt tolerant plants can grow forming mangrove and/or salt marsh habitats as well as mud flats. These areas provide important structure and resources for diverse assemblages of species as well as key services in trapping sediment, nutrients, and pollutants and protecting coastlines. Coastal development has dramatically reduced the scale of New Zealand’s estuaries and invasive species have also contributed to their degradation. This map shows over 6000 estuary distributions defined by the National Institute for Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in the New Zealand Estuary Environment Classification (Hume et al. 2007), with geospatial mapping refined by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Limitations include any changes in estuary distribution since 2007. This layer has some areas of overlap with the ‘Wetlands’ layer.<div><br /></div><div>This layer has some areas of overlap with the ‘Wetlands’ layer. Updated and more detailed regional data sets may be available and should be examined for fine scale assessments.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Hume, T. M., T. Snelder, M. Weatherhead, and R. Liefting. 2007. A controlling factor approach to estuary classification. Ocean & Coastal Management 50:905-929.</div><div>Department of Conservation and Ministry of Fisheries. 2011.; Coastal marine habitats and marine protected areas in the New Zealand Territorial Sea: a broad scale gap analysis. Wellington, New Zealand.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>https://doc-marine-data-deptconservation.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/ab9d7519a4c94f57afc89ede9e72103e_0/about</div>