The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Potential for 'catastrophe': Mangroves deliberately planted in Ahuriri Estuary

Hawkes Bay Today
24 Feb, 2020 01:32 AM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Hans Rook with mangrove seedlings that had been planted in Ahuriri Estuary. Photo / DOC

Hans Rook with mangrove seedlings that had been planted in Ahuriri Estuary. Photo / DOC

Several invasive mangrove seedlings have been deliberately planted in the Ahuriri Estuary, the Department of Conservation says.

DoC said it was concerned by the potentially "catastrophic" discovery, made by local biodiversity champions.

Ahuriri Estuary is an important ecosystem in the region and provides a habitat for endangered species like the kuaka (eastern bar-tailed godwit), spoonbills, dotterels and occasionally terns and herons.

DoC biodiversity senior ranger Denise Fastier said the introduction of mangroves could devastate that habitat.

"The reckless introduction of these plants to Ahuriri Estuary could be catastrophic for the delicate estuarine ecosystem that supports so many threatened species of wading birds."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

READ MORE:
• Five trespassed from Hawke's Bay DOC campsite for starting fire for 'Kiwi camping experience'
• Unsafe DoC bridge still used
• DoC urges Hawke's Bay residents to check for myrtle rust in gardens
• DOC wants more private coastal campgrounds

The mangrove seedlings were discovered recently on separate occasions by locals Mike Hockey and Hans Rook, who removed them and immediately contacted DoC.

In some areas mangroves can offer some environmental positives, but in Ahuriri they have not historically been a part of the environment and if they were to establish, Fastier said, they would choke the estuary and upset the balance irrevocably.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Anyone found planting mangrove seedlings in Ahuriri Estuary could find themselves facing prosecution under the Conservation Act, 1987.

Ahuriri Estuary is an incredibly important ecosystem in the region and provides habitat for endangered species. Photo / File
Ahuriri Estuary is an incredibly important ecosystem in the region and provides habitat for endangered species. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay Regional Council spokeswoman Anna Madarasz-Smith said mangroves are only naturalised in areas north of East Cape.

"They have many great qualities including binding sediments to reduce erosion, habitat for fish and invertebrates and filtering water to improve water quality.

"However, they can also grow in excess where sediment coming in from the catchment is changing estuarine habitats, and some areas are having to remove them," she said.

Discover more

New Zealand

DoC warning: Steer clear of travelling seal or risk $250,000 fine

10 Feb 02:20 AM

"Hawke's Bay is not within mangroves' natural range and we advise strongly against trying to introduce them to estuaries in this area."

Even where mangroves are part of the environment, density has rapidly expanded to the point of congestion.

Northland local authorities have responded with mangrove management projects.

These focus on restoring coastal access, firm sand flats, shellfish beds and improving biodiversity by removing mangroves.

If you see mangroves in Ahuriri Estuary, contact DOCHOT on 0800 362 468.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

Premium
The Country

'They just keep coming': Illegal hunting causes frustration and fear on East Coast

The Country

Watch: CCTV shows moment drug-driver caused tractor to crash into homes

The Country

Te Puke incident: Person airlifted after serious injury


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Premium
Premium
'They just keep coming': Illegal hunting causes frustration and fear on East Coast
The Country

'They just keep coming': Illegal hunting causes frustration and fear on East Coast

East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick highlights rising poaching concerns.

17 Jul 06:00 AM
Watch: CCTV shows moment drug-driver caused tractor to crash into homes
The Country

Watch: CCTV shows moment drug-driver caused tractor to crash into homes

17 Jul 03:49 AM
Te Puke incident: Person airlifted after serious injury
The Country

Te Puke incident: Person airlifted after serious injury

17 Jul 02:26 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP