Kaimaumau wetland
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| Kaimaumau wetland | |
|---|---|
 Landsat image centered on the Kaimaumau wetland, Northland | |
 Interactive map of Kaimaumau wetland | |
| Location | Northland, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 34°53′47″S 173°13′47″E / 34.89635°S 173.229675°E |
| Area | 1,860 hectares (4,600 acres) |
The Kaimaumau wetland is a wetland by the Rangaunu Harbour, in Northland, New Zealand. At approximately 1,860 hectares (4,600 acres), it is one of the largest remaining wetlands in Northland. It comprises the Otiaita and Waihauhau swamps, Motutangi Swamp Scientific Reserve, and Lake Waikaramu. The wetland is currently threatened by peat mining and by water loss from avocado growing.
Kaimaumau is home to a large number of rare or endangered New Zealand plants, birds, and reptiles, and is biologically significant because of its mixture of dunes and wetlands.[1] The presence of native mudfish and eels qualifies Kaimaumau wetland as a Significant Natural Area (SNA) under the Resource Management Act.[2] From a biodiversity viewpoint, it is considered the second most important wetland in Northland, which has lost 94.5 percent of its wetlands.[2] It has rare orchids such as Thelymitra "Ahipara", one of New Zealand's only two native sun orchids.[3] Kaimaumau is home to fernbirds and marsh crakes. Its threatened plant species include Utricularia australis, Utricularia delicatula, the clubmosses Phylloglossum drummondii and Lycopodiella serpentina, and the ferns Todea barbara and Thelypteris confluens.[4] Sydney golden wattle is an invasive pest species in the wetland, replacing native shrub species in dryer areas.[4]