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• Text account
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The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2014 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species') at the site:

Species	Red List	Season (year/s of estimate)	Size	IBA criteria
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus	VU	resident (-)	present	A1
Northern Red-breasted Plover Charadrius aquilonius	LC	resident (2009–2012)	26–28 pairs	A1, A4i
Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis	VU	non-breeding (2009–2012)	9–19 birds	A4i
Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri	NT	resident (-)	present	A1
Fairy Tern Sternula nereis	VU	breeding (-)	present	A4i

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2014. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

Pressure (threats to the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Threat	Timing	Scope	Severity	Result
Pollution	happe­ning now	most of popul­ation/area (50–90%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Invasive and other problematic species and genes	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Natural system modifications	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	moderate decline (10–30% over 3 gener­ations)	high
Human intrusions and disturbance	happe­ning now	some of popul­ation/area (10–49%)	slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations)	medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the trigger species and/or their habitats)
Designation	Planning	Action	Result
Not assessed	Not assessed	Not assessed	not assessed

Year	Protected Area	Designation (management category)	% coverage of IBA
-	Moturemu Island	Scenic Reserve (III)	<1
1889	Lower Pahi River	Scenic Reserve (III)	<1
1889	Whakapirau River	Scenic Reserve (III)	<1
1889	Arapaoa River	Scenic Reserve (III)	<1
1889	Paparoa Creek	Scenic Reserve (III)	<1
1924	Rabbit & Goat Island	Scenic Reserve (III)	<1
1980	Kaukapakapa	Scenic Reserve (III)	<1
1981	Manukapua (Wildlife Management)	Government Purpose Reserve (-)	<1
1983	Tauhoa	Scientific Reserve (Ia)	<1
1987	Parakai	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Whakatu	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Pouto	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Tauhoa	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Okahukura	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Awakohukohu Creek	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Tangitiki	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Ruawai	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Taumata Creek	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Punahaere Creek	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Waioneke	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Tomb Point	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Shines Road	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Kaipara	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Kakaraea Islands	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Whakapirau Creek	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Kohatutahi	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Kakaraea Road	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Karukaruhui Creek	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Kaipara River	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1987	Whakapirau	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
1991	South Head Road	Scientific Reserve (Ia)	<1
1991	Omaumau River	Scientific Reserve (Ia)	<1
1991	Millets Island	Scientific Reserve (Ia)	<1
2002	Oruawharo River	Stewardship Area (III)	<1
2016	Mairetahi Landing	Conservation Covenant (IV)	<1
2016	Mauiniu Island	Conservation Covenant (IV)	<1
2016	Moturemu Island	Conservation Covenant (IV)	<1

Habitat	% of IBA	Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal	major (>10)
Marine Intertidal	major (>10)
Marine Neritic	major (>10)
Shrubland	major (>10)
Forest	minor (<10)

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Kaipara Harbour (New Zealand). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/kaipara-harbour-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.