We’re delighted that the QEII owned Taupō Swamp wetland has been recommended to be recognised as outstanding by The Greater Wellington Regional Council. This means that the Wellington wetland will be better protected from the effects in the surrounding catchment.

Taupō Swamp is 20 km north of Wellington between Plimmerton and Pukerua Bay, immediately to the west of State Highway One. It was the first major wetland to be protected in the Wellington region and is a biodiversity gem because of the rich diversity of plants, fish, birds, reptiles and insects that can be found there.

The Greater Wellington Regional Council hearing commissioners have recommended that the classification of the wetland be raised from “significant’ to “Outstanding’ after consideration of QEII evidence submitted during the Natural Resource Plan process.

QEII is delighted that Taupō Swamp has been recognised as a ‘wetland with outstanding indigenous biodiversity values’ and the protection that this offers.

The Taupō Swamp Wetland Complex, including Taupō stream and the associated wetland arms, support a variety of threatened and at-risk indigenous plants, bird and fish communities such as Australasian bittern, Spotless and Marsh Crake, longfin eel and giant kokopu.

The wetlands, however, are at serious risk from sedimentation, contaminants, weed species and pest animals and development in its catchment. As sediments build up in the wetland it dries out and specialist wetland plants and animals are lost.

Purchased by QEII in 1986 with support from Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC), Porirua City Council and local conservation groups, and is protected as open space for the benefit of present and future generations under our Act.

Nationally, less than 10% of wetlands remain from the pre-human extent. As of 2008, in the Wellington region only 2.3% of original wetland extent remains. The original extent of Taupō Swamp was approximately 105 hectares and has been reduced to 43 hectares.