Te Matuku Bay

Size: 150 hectares

Area description

Te Matuku Bay biodiversity focus area is situated on the south coast of Waiheke Island. It has one of the largest and least disturbed estuaries and the best estuarine to forest ecosystem sequence on the island.

This biodiversity focus area includes Te Matuku Bay Scenic Reserve and a number of esplanade reserves. 

Te Matuku Bay Marine Reserve protects the marine environment within the bay. This includes eel grass and shellfish beds on the mudflats, mangroves and saltmarsh, and two shell barrier beaches on the eastern side of the bay (SA1).

Te Matuku Bay and Orapiu.
Looking east over the mangroves at Orapiu and Te Matuku Bay. Ponui Island can be seen in the background.
Photo credit: Andrew Macdonald, Biospatial Ltd 2019

Key ecosystems

This biodiversity focus area includes extensive intertidal flats, shell barrier beaches and shell banks, low-lying islands, freshwater wetlands, native forest and regenerating scrub. The habitat value is considered to be of national significance. Shell barrier beaches are nationally identified as a Naturally Uncommon ecosystem.

The hillslopes are covered in a mosaic (mix) of:

  • mature and regenerating coastal broadleaved forest (WF4)
  • kauri, podocarp, broadleaved forest (WF11)
  • kānuka forest and scrub (VS2).
Te Matuku Bay and Orapiu.
Looking west over the mangroves which are part of Te Matuku biodiversity focus area at Orapiu, Waiheke.
Photo credit: Andrew Macdonald, Biospatial Ltd 2019

Native fauna

Te Matuku shell barrier beaches and shell banks provide important roosting and nesting areas for native and migratory shorebirds. Tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel), tōrea pango (variable oystercatcher) and taranui (Caspian tern) all nest on the shell barrier beaches. 

Migratory species found here seasonally include:

  • kuaka (godwit)
  • huahou (red knot)
  • ngutuparore (wrybill)
  • tōrea (South Island pied oystercatcher).

Pohowera (banded dotterel), tara (white-fronted tern) and matuku moana (reef heron) are also found from time to time in the bay. Secretive wetland birds pūweto (spotless crake) and matuku-hūrepo (Australasian bittern) have been recorded in the wetlands.

The forest vegetation provides habitat for birds including:

  • kererū
  • riroriro (grey warbler)
  • tauhou (silvereye)
  • tūī
  • pīwakawaka (fantail)
  • kōtare (kingfisher)
  • ruru (morepork).

Kākā and pīpīwharauroa (shining cuckoo) are also present for part of the year. The freshwater streams provide habitat for species including kōura (crayfish), banded kōkopu (cockabully) and tuna (eels).

Related ecosystems

Coastal saline ecosystem

Mangrove forest and scrub ecosystem (SA1)

Mangrove forest and scrub is found in tidal estuaries, inlets and where salt water meets fresh at the mouths of rivers and streams. This ecosystem has a range of distinct plant communities that provide habitat for birds and fish.

Threat status
Least concern

Regenerating ecosystem

Kānuka scrub and forest ecosystem (VS2)

Found throughout New Zealand, kānuka dominated forest establishes readily after fire. It's diverse range of flowering and fruiting shrubs and trees provide habitat for a wide range of invertebrates, birds and lizards.

Threat status
Least concern

Wetland ecosystem

Mānuka, tangle fern scrub and fernland (WL12)

Mānuka fen wetlands are found in areas with seasonally wet and dry soils, such as the margins of lakes and estuaries. In Auckland, the largest examples of this ecosystem are found on Aotea / Great Barrier Island.

Threat status
Critically endangered

Wetland ecosystem

Raupō reedland ecosystem (WL19)

Raupō swamps are found in a wide range of areas on mineral soils and fluctuating water tables. They are dominated by raupō and other rushes and grasses, which provide a home for wetland birds.

Threat status
Endangered