Our Waitarakao

Waitarakao is a special place for mana whenua, local people and visitors. Together with our partners we’ve made a plan to restore the health of the lagoon and wider catchment. Learn about actions and projects underway and how you can get involved.

🌿 Discover Waitarakao – a special place for mana whenua and the community. Stay up to date with restoration projects and find out how to get involved. Sign up for updates(external link).

A partnership for lagoon health

Our Waitarakao is a partnership project between Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, the Department of Conservation, Timaru District Council and us, working in close collaboration with the community.

The Waitarakao lagoon area is important for its rare geomorphology, native ecological habitats, biodiversity, and cultural and historical values.

It is right on the doorstep of Timaru and a short distance from the traditional and recent pā sites of Kāti Huirapa.

Over time the lagoon has shrunk, and its health and the habitat of the wildlife are declining.

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Watch: Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon – key features and issues

Our Waitarakao strategy

The Our Waitarakao strategy sets the vision, aspirations, and direction we are collectively working toward for the whole catchment.

Strategy vision: To restore the mauri of Waitarakao for everyone.

Strategy outcomes

Outcome one:

Ecological revitalisation or restoration achieves and sustains thriving, healthy, functioning ecosystems.

"I can see the lagoon as a kidney for the streams that feed it prior to going out to sea," community member.

Outcome two:

Increase mahika kai to enable customary harvest of food and resources that were traditionally gathered from the area, ki uta ki tai

"Tuna/eel were a main source of food and there were plenty. There were so many it never occurred to Māori after colonisation they would be able to become as depleted as they have," community member.

Outcome three:

Resilience planning reduces the environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts of natural hazards

"I remember back to the 1986 floods when the whole of Washdyke was flooded. I’m sure this will reoccur at some stage, and as long as Washdyke remains an industrial site (and increasingly so too) the detrimental effects of flooding will increase. And what can we do about the diminishing sea wall?" community member.

Outcome four:

The community is informed about, and involved in, the restoration of the mauri of the Waitarakao catchment

"A great educational opportunity to get kids excited about preserving local ecosystems," community member.

Outcome five:

Enable the community to appropriately interact with the catchment

"Would love to see more/improved access through the lagoon into the Washdyke industrial area. Easier and nicer to commute by bike/walking rather than through SH1," community member.

5.1MB Download Our Waitarakao - Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon Catchment Strategy

Actions underway to improve Waitarakao catchment

Collective action from agencies, businesses and individuals will contribute to restoring the mauri of Waitarakao.

An implementation group meets regularly and is working through first steps and ongoing actions within the strategy with the help and involvement of the community.

An Our Waitarakao Steering Group of the four project partners oversees the project.

Strategy actions include:

pest control
weed and sediment control
monitoring water quality
conducting fish surveys and planting
education.

Waitarakao catchment projects

View projects in the area that are focused on achieving the outcomes and objectives of the Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon Catchment Strategy.

Latest news

News

Our Waitarakao wins big at local government awards

Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2025

In collaboration with project partners, we have won a Local Government NZ Excellence Award for the Our Waitarakao catchment strategy.

News

Hidden biodiversity revealed in Waitarakao catchment

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2025

To protect freshwater life in Waitarakao catchment, we first need to know what’s there - and recent mahi by scientists and farmers has revealed some surprises.

News

Action gets underway at Waitarakao

Date: Thu, 8 May 2025

Our Waitarakao project partners and the community are now busy implementing it – one plant, one trap, and one beach clean-up at a time.

How you can get involved

Help us improve the health of the lagoon and wider catchment.

If you own land in the catchment you can help by:

Planting unproductive or unused land and fencing waterways to improve biodiversity and water quality.
Letting us assist or accelerate the restoration work you’re already doing.
Partnering with us in predator control by having a trap or monitor on your property - in rural and residential areas in the catchment.
Allowing us access to your place for things like waterway monitoring and predator control.

Community members and businesses can help by:

Volunteering time for activities like planting days, beach clean-ups and pest control.
Sponsoring activities and the resources needed for them.
Donating things like fencing materials, machinery for earthworks, labour, plants and pest traps.

We're also available to support community and business initiatives in the catchment.

If you’re interested in becoming involved, get in touch with the Our Waitarakao project team by phoning 027 329 4650 or email WaitarakaoWashdyke@ecan.govt.nz

50.0kB Download: Our Waitarakao — Get Involved

Key features of the catchment

1. Timaru: South Canterbury’s largest town. Many Timaru residents work near or visit the lagoon.

2. Residential area: The largest of several residential areas in the catchment. Stormwater from these areas discharges to the lagoon.

3. Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon: A Rare geomorphic feature. A taoka – an area of cultural significance, mātaitai and source of mahika kai. A wildlife refuge supporting native birds and fish species.

4. Levels Plain and Seaforth: Area of land between State Highway 8 and the coast. Consists of productive farmland, lifestyle properties, drainage and irrigation.

5. Inland streams: Papaka, Rosewill, and Oakwood, the major inland streams, merge into Washdyke Creek before entering the lagoon environment. Habitat for fish and native birds.

6. Inland farmland: Area includes land and rolling hills located inland of State Highway 8. Consists of productive farmland and lifestyle properties. Habitat for native birds and fish.

7. Critical Infrastructure, industry and business: Industrial hub for South Canterbury and major contributor to local economy. Discharges stormwater to the lagoon. Critical infrastructure includes railway, highways, and wastewater treatment facilities.

8. Coastal stopbank: Extends north and is 7km in length. It protects land and the Seadown Drainage Scheme from seawater flooding.

9. Coastal farmland and Seadown Drainage Scheme: Area of productive farmland. Includes an extensive drainage scheme that is part of a mātaitai reserve, a freshwater input to the lagoon and fish habitat.

10. Natural hazards: The Coastline is eroding by 1.5 – 2 metres per year. Seawater and/or freshwater flooding affects plains and other lower areas across the catchment.