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 ('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 (1996–1997) | 14–17 nests | A1, A4i |
| Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri | NT | breeding (1995–2010) | 961–1,624 pairs | A1, A4i |
| Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus | EN | breeding (1975–2010) | 202–470 pairs | A1, 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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Pollution | happening now | some of population/area (10–49%) | no or slight decline (<1% over 3 generations) | low |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Waiau Rivermouth | Scenic Reserve (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Pacific Ocean Foreshore Waiau Rivermouth | Stewardship Area (III) | 1 |
| 1987 | Waiau Riverbed Spotswood | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Mason Waiau Riverbeds | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Hope Riverbed east of Bridge | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Spotswood | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Garden Island Waiau River | Stewardship Area (III) | - |
| 1987 | Waiareka Downs | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Lottery Riverbed Mason River Confluence | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 1987 | Cabbage Tree Island Waiau River | Stewardship Area (III) | <1 |
| 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: Waiau River (New Zealand). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/waiau-river-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.