Wetlands

A wetland is any land that is permanently or frequently wet and supports a natural ecosystem of plants and animals.  Wetlands include streams, swamps, bogs, lakes, lagoons, estuaries, mudflats and flood plains.

Damp land without wetland plants, such as temporary ponds, low-lying land with patches of rushes and temporary watercourses are wetlands that can be good places to restore or convert into a permanent wetland.   

Gisborne District Council together with Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Fish & Game New Zealand and the Department of Conservation have produced a guide to help landowners create, develop or restore wetlands.

Download Working with wetlands in Hawke's Bay and the East Coast  

The guide includes:

• a step by step plan to getting started
• a plant guide
• historical perspective
• problem wet farm land
• community, school or farm projects