This long, narrow estuary with its wide range of fresh to salty, shallow to deep, and sandy to muddy habitats supports an extremely diverse range of birds, fish, invertebrates and plant life.

Over 70 species of resident and migratory waterbirds use the estuary as a feeding and resting area.

Bar-tailed godwits/kuaka, knots and golden plovers migrate here each year from their arctic breeding grounds.

Wrybills/ngutu pare, oystercatchers/tōrea, pied stilts/poaka and royal spoonbills/kōtuku-ngutupapa over-winter from their South Island homes.

Te Whanganui-ā-Orotu, “the great harbour of Orotu“ is a site of profound cultural and historical importance. Named after Te Orotu, a descendant of Māhu Tapoanui, it once thrived with abundant resources.

In March of 2022 Ahuriri Hapū settled their Treaty of Waitangi Claim. The settlement legislation established a permanent estuary co-governance committee, Te Komiti Muriwai o Te Whanga, to safeguard and enrich Te Muriwai o Te Whanga (Ahuriri Estuary and its catchment areas) for present and future generations.

Te Muriwai o Te Whanga plan