Current view: Text account
Site description (2014 baseline):
IBA Trigger species: Black-billed Gull, Black-fronted Tern, Wrybill.
Besides the trigger species the following species are confirmed or likely to be breeding: White-faced Heron, Australasian Harrier, Canada Goose, Paradise Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Teal, Californian Quail, Pukeko, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Variable Oystercatcher, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Southern Black-backed Gull, Red-billed Gull, NZ Pigeon, Rock Pigeon, Shining Cuckoo, White-fronted Tern, NZ Kingfisher, Welcome Swal-low, NZ Pipit, Grey Warbler, South Island Fantail, Silvereye, Bellbird, Skylark, Hedge Sparrow, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yel-lowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie. Other species record-ed: Black Shag, Little Shag.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Human disturbance – Yes - Anthropogenic disturbance due to multiple river and riverbed users can impact on breeding and feeding seabirds and shorebirds.
Predation by alien species – Yes - Feral cats, rats and hedgehogs are present within the site. Dogs can also be a problem. Trapping and riverbed group activities and presence can mitigate impacts
Habitat loss or degradation – Yes - Weeds encroaching on nesting habitat
Contamination – No
Natural disaster – Yes - Flooding can impact on nest sites
Parasite or pathogen - No
Other – No
Pacific Ocean Foreshore Napenape - Conservation Area - Protected area overlaps with site
Hurunui - Marginal Strip - c.153 ha - Protected area contained within site
Hurunui River Kairn Brock - Conservation Area - 1ha - Protected area contained within site
South Branch Hurunui - Marginal Strip - 43ha - Protected area contained within site.
The IBA includes areas (mainly open river flats) of the Lake Sumner Forest Park and Head of Lake Sumner Conservation Area which it borders.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Hurunui River (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/hurunui-river-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.
