Restoring Ahuriri Lagoon

Ahuriri Lagoon is located near Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere in Canterbury. In the past, it was a large body of water surrounded by wetland. It served as an important food source for birds and animals. But in the late 1800s, it was gradually drained. Now it is a mostly-dry grassland.

The Whakaora Te Ahuriri project aims to make the lagoon healthy again. The project involves constructing a wetland in the area and introducing a wide variety of plants.

Water will be redirected from the nearby Huritini/Halswell River, pass through the lagoon and then reconnect with the river. This way, water will flow through the new plants. As it passes, the plants will hold on to some of the nutrients and sediments the water is carrying so they can grow better and the water flows cleaner.

In addition to the 80,000 aquatic plants in the water, the Wakaora Te Ahuriri project team will plant 50,000 plants around the lagoon. These plants will provide food and habitats for native birds and wildlife.

With the restoration of this wetland, people will also be able to fish and gather mahinga kai here.

We are proud to support this kaupapa through the Freshwater Improvement Fund.

Learn about the Freshwater Improvement Fund

Find out more about the Whakaora Te Ahuriri project [Te Waihora co-governance website]