Our estuaries

Experiencing estuaries

This interactive map shows where you can explore estuaries on walking tracks, watch birds and learn more with videos and educational resources.

Monitoring estuaries

This interactive map lets you explore the information collected by councils, government agencies, community groups and people like you.

Restoring estuaries

An interactive map of restoration work to improve the health of estuaries (mountains to sea). It also includes links to agency and community initiatives, strategic plans, plant lists and restoration guides.

Featured estuary projects

There are many opportunities to get involved in online and practical projects based around estuaries in New Zealand.

Straw bales as temporary inanga spawning habitat

Inanga spawn where saltwater meets freshwater in estuaries. Straw bales placed along the edge of a stream or river can show where these places are and be useful as temporary spawning habitat.

Seagrass and mangrove extent

This interactive map shows the current and historical extent of seagrass and mangroves in New Zealand. The project is a repository for any survey work undertaken.

About estuaries

Estuaries are dynamic, rich ecosystems where freshwater mixes with the sea. Find out why they are important and some of the threats they face.

Protecting our estuaries

Use this resource to learn about, explore and protect our unique estuarine environments.

Estuarine systems in the lower North Island/Te Ika-a-Māui

This report describes geographic features, values and pressures for 48 estuarine sites in the lower North Island and sets out current and potential conservation activities.

Getting started

Here are some ideas for using Our Estuaries hub.

• If you want to find a walk near an estuary, see the experiencing estuaries map.
• If you'd like to contribute your local knowledge about an estuary, find a group to connect with on the restoring estuaries map.
• See the featured projects page for ways to record things you see in an estuary and join a community of online enthusiasts.
• Find out how healthy your local estuary is with the LAWA website or the monitoring estuaries map.
• If you’d like to get your hands dirty with some native planting or monitor pests near an estuary, link up with others via the restoring estuaries map.
• For bird lists or teacher resources see the experiencing estuaries map.
• Share your knowledge with other groups via the restoring estuaries map.
• Tell the world about your estuary care group or project via social media using #OurEstuaries.