NZ062
Rakaia River


IBA Justification

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
Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis VU breeding (2009–2011) 109–455 nests A1, A4i
Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri NT breeding (1970–2014) 1,202–5,481 pairs A1, A4i
Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus EN breeding (1975–2011) 36–291 pairs A1, A4i

IBA Conservation

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 assessment
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 trigger 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 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
Natural system modifications happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Pollution happe­ning now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow decline (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Climate change and severe weather likely in short term (<4 years) some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) moderate decline (10–30% 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

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1957 Lake Heron Wildlife Refuge Wildlife Refuge (IV) <1
1987 Rakaia Riverbed Stewardship Area (III) 1
1987 Rakaia Forest Stewardship Area (III) 1
1987 Wilberforce Riverbed Stewardship Area (III) <1
1987 Rakaia Island Stewardship Area (III) <1
1987 Rakaia River Margin Stewardship Area (III) <1
1987 Rakaia Riverbed Stewardship Area (III) -
2014 Conservation - Tenure Review - Manuka Point - Protects Natural and Landscape Value - Rakaia River Flats, Homestead Faces and Mathias River Faces Conservation Covenant (IV) 1
2014 Conservation - Glenthorne Station - Moss Burn Wetlands Conservation Covenant (IV) <1

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Grassland major (>10)
Introduced vegetation major (>10)
Shrubland major (>10)
Wetlands (inland) major (>10)
Forest minor (<10)
Marine Intertidal minor (<10)


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Rakaia River (New Zealand). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/rakaia-river-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.