Inventory of coastal areas of local or regional significance in the ...

Whenuakura Estuary
Number: 64 GPS: 2639407E
6157240N
General description
A small but relatively unmodified estuary with extensive mudflats. The Whenuakura
Estuary has tidal lagoons, a sand bar, and an island often forms. To the south west of the
estuary the cliffs gradually disappear under eight metre high sand dunes. This is part of the
20 km wide coastal strip of South Taranaki uplifted marine terraces, and is a dynamic coast
with many unvegetated and unstable dunes. Much of the area is continually being eroded by
wind and wave action. The sand dunes extend either side of the river for approximately 3
km, with high irregular foredunes, and dune ridges extending up to 50 metres inland. The
dunes are vegetated with marram, some sand convolvulus and isolated pingao and spinifex.
1, 2, 14
The area is important for seabirds.
Location
3.5 km south of Patea.
Land tenure
Site: - Crown Land: Estuary, foreshore and Foreshore Reserve (administered by
the Department of Conservation)
Site access: - District Land: On both banks; Harbour Endowment Farm
On right bank; unformed Pilot Station road
On left bank; unformed Whenuakura Road
- Private Land: On left bank; no formal access
Values
Amenity Moderate
Recreational Moderate
Cultural/
Historical
Ecological/
Scientific
High - site of a Maori Kainga (village) on sand dunes on left bank 4
- a pa existed on island in the estuary 4
4, 8
- sites of spiritual significance
1, 2
High - relatively unmodified estuary
- habitat of threatened caspian tern and rare variable oyster
catcher
1, 2
- nationally important for presence of Royal spoonbill 4
- whitebait spawning on northern bank 1
- on the route for migratory birds
- large area of sand dunes, with a loud frog population in the
dune swales 4
Public access
Poor - An unformed road leads to the right bank. On the left bank an unformed road
stops approximately 100 m from the river bank. The unformed roads are not
discernable on the ground.
142
1, 2