Data Zone
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 IBA criteria.
Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key 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) | 48–60 individuals | A1, A4i |
| Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri | NT | breeding (1995–1997) | 4–12 nests | A1 |
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.
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | State | Pressure | Response |
| 2014 | not assessed | high | not assessed |
| Whole site assessed? | State assessed by | Accuracy of information | |
| no | unset | - | |
| Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Threat | Timing | Scope | Severity | Result |
| Invasive and other problematic species and genes | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | moderate deterioration (10–30% in 3 generations) | high |
| Climate change and severe weather | likely in short term (within 4 years) | most of population/area (50–90%) | rapid deterioration (>30% over 3 generations) | high |
| Human intrusions and disturbance | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | slow deterioration (1–10% over 3 generations) | medium |
| Response (conservation actions taken for the key 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Papakanui Spit Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife Refuge (IV) | <1 |
| 1987 | Papakanui | Stewardship Area (III) | 59 |
| 1987 | South Head | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1993 | Ti Tree Island | Stewardship Area (III) | 1 |
| 2016 | Tipare | Conservation Covenant (IV) | <1 |
| Habitat | % of IBA | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | major (>10) | |
| Marine Intertidal | major (>10) | |
| Shrubland | major (>10) | |
| Forest | minor (<10) |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Papakanui Spit (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/papakanui-spit-iba-new-zealand on 14/01/2025.