NZ046
Wairau Lagoons


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
Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri NT non-breeding (-) abundant A1
Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus EN non-breeding (2008–2014) 15–650 birds 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
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
Biological resource use 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%) 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

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
1993 Wairau Diversion Mouth Stewardship Area (III) 3
1993 Wairau Riverbed Stewardship Area (III) <1
1994 Wairau Lagoons Wetland Management Government Purpose Reserve (-) 66

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Introduced vegetation major (>10)
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Wetlands (inland) minor (<10) Rivers & streams


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Wairau Lagoons (New Zealand). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/wairau-lagoons-iba-new-zealand on 23/12/2024.