Waitākere Quarry Wetlands

Size: 0.2 hectares

Site description

The Waitākere Quarry Wetlands are two semi-connected wetlands within the old Waitākere Quarry at the head of Te Henga valley, on Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland’s west coast. The wetlands function as one but are separated by an earth bund and culvert. A short section of Waitupu Stream flows through the wetlands. 

Native restoration plantings at varying stages of maturity surround the wetlands, as well as quarry roads. The plantings and wetlands provide habitat for native species. They also provide a valuable function in filtering out sediment from the stream as it flows through the wetland downstream to Waitākere River, Te Henga wetland and onto Te Henga / Bethells beach.

Waitākere Quarry.
One of the raupō dominated wetlands at the Waitākere Quarry.

Ecosystems and vegetation

The wetlands are dominated by raupō (WL19). Other plant species include occasional cabbage tree, swamp sedge, gully fern and swamp kiokio.

Surrounding the wetlands, the adjacent land has been battered into steep slopes with coarse metal from the quarry applied.

Native restoration plantings are establishing on the slopes, including:

  • kānuka
  • mānuka
  • flax
  • cabbage trees
  • karamu.

A short distance downstream, the wetland transitions into a stream once again and flows into an extensive area of native kauri, podocarp, broadleaf forest (WF11).

Two adjacent pools within the quarry have varying amounts of raupō-dominated wetland vegetation on the edges. Young native revegetation plantings cover most of the now-retired quarry site.

Raupō wetland at Waitākere Quarry.
The raupō wetlands are surrounded by mānuka, kānuka, flax, coprosma species and cabbage trees.

Related ecosystems

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