Biological data for identified Areas of Significant Conservation Value in the Waikato coastal and marine environment

In the regional coastal plan EW states that the identified conservation values are not an exhaustive list, but a summarised version of those values of regional importance originally identified by DOC in the Coastal Resource Inventory (DOC, 1993). Despite different selection criteria and purposes for selecting ASCVs there is a lot of overlap between areas selected by NIWA and EW. This document focuses on all ASCVs (a total of 31) identified in NIWA’s report and EW’s regional coastal plan. First areas identified by NIWA and EW are compared to each other (chapter 2) and divided into different groups based on existing classification frameworks (chapters 3). Chapter 4 describes data sources used to describe biological data for ASCVs and provides comments that should be kept in mind while reading and using this report. In chapter 5 available biological data for ASCVs are presented. First a general description of each group of ASCVs is given (including information about the location, the size and some common physical characteristics of the areas) followed by a detailed description of available biological data for each area within a group. A reference list is included in chapter 6. Purpose: Consistent with the national objective to establish a network of marine protected areas the Department of Conservation (DOC) contracted the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in 2004 to identify areas of significant conservation value (ASCVs) that cover a range of representative habitats including typical, rare and unique biological and physical features within the Waikato coastal and marine environment and which may be worth giving consideration for some form of marine protection. The areas identified by NIWA were selected using the best available information and were designated as areas most valuable for biodiversity protection. In the regional coastal plan Environment Waikato (EW) also identified ASCVs within the Waikato coastal marine environment. These areas were identified using a set of assessment criteria derived from schedule 2 of the New Zealand Coastal Policy Statement (NZCPS) (1994) and included biological, physical, geological, historical and cultural data. This document focuses on all ASCVs (a total of 31) identified in NIWA’s report and EW’s regional coastal plan. The document can be used as a resource for progressing marine protection (as background information a brief description of marine protection policy in New Zealand and current marine protection in the Waikato coastal and marine environment is provided in appendix 1), progressing resource consent applications and increasing awareness of marine values in the Waikato coastal marine area.

Comparison of ASCVs identified by NIWA and EW. Grouping of ASCVs into eight different groups: Group 1: Westcoast intertidal river mouths/tidal rivers, Group 2: Westcoast intertidal drowned valleys, Group 3: Westcoast subtidal coastal environments, Group 4: Westcoast offshore islands, Group 5: East coast intertidal coastal embayments, Group 6: East coast intertidal tidal lagoons, Group 7: East coast subtidal coastal environments, Group 8: East coast offshore islands. Appendix 1 Marine protection policy in New Zealand and current marine protection in the Waikato coastal and marine environment. Appendix 2 Bird species mentioned on the threat classification lists of Hitchmough et al. (2005)

All Waikato Region

NIWA review undertaken in 2004. DoC report completed March 2007. Considers all data gathered to date.

Frequency of collection: Dataset represents a review of all past studies.

Completeness: See report

Data presented in report available in hard copy and digitally. Digital Format: Report available as .pdf from Waikato Conservancy of Department of Conservation.

Development of future marine reserves. Coastal management and assessment of effects of proposed activities.

Freely available from Department of Conservation. Sensitivity/Confidentiality: No confidentiality.

Study completed.

Additional comments: Provides very useful and complete summary of known conservation values around the Waikato Region. Related information: The results of the NIWA study are presented in the report ‘Identifying areas of conservation value in the Waikato coastal marine environment (Lundquist et al. 2004)’.