Development of the reserve
The area was designated a Wildlife Management Reserve in 1985, with the following primary aims:
· to protect and enhance habitat for waterfowl
· to protect the salt-marsh and create a more diverse habitat by developing flax swamp, manuka/kanuka forest and coastal shrubland around the saltmarsh
· to provide visitor access to significant parts of the reserve so it can be used without disturbing wildlife.
Since 1985, the reserve has seen a number of developments to support these aims. Shallow ponds known as 'scrapes' were developed for wading birds, tracks and boardwalks were built around the salt-marsh, and hides were established so that visitors could observe the birdlife. A plant nursery was established and a visitor centre built. Weed eradication began very quickly, and continues as a major activity.
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Plants and planting
The reserve contains a succession of vegetation from tidal mudflats to coastal forest. The coastal scrub consists of marsh ribbonwood, coastal tree daisy, taupata, ngaio, kanuka and manuka. The principal wetlands species to be found in the reserve are swamp flax, raupo, reeds, rushes, glasswort, sea primrose, halfstar, New Zealand spinach and wild celery. The rare New Zealand musk, Mimulus repens, is also present in the reserve.
An extensive planting programme is carried out by volunteers from Forest and Bird and the community.
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White-faced heron