Te tiaki i ō ara rerenga wai, ō repo, ō roto hoki
Looking after your waterways, wetlands and lakes
Having clean fresh water is important to our economy, culture and environment.
Before water flows out to the sea, it goes through a network of waterways including:
- the surrounding riparian vegetation that intercepts contaminants and sediment
- lakes that store sediment
- wetlands that cleanse water flowing from rural and urban land use.
This hydrological network provides fresh water to drink, storage of water during flooding, habitat for native freshwater and terrestrial wildlife and ensures our marine environment remains healthy.
The National Environmental Standards for Freshwater (NES-FW) regulates activities that take place within or near natural inland wetlands. Find out if the restoration activity you are planning needs a permitted activity notice.
Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland's freshwater environments also have significant recreational and cultural value. Remember to always check for wāhi tapu (sacred place/s) and other cultural heritage sites.
Our resources below will help you find out how to protect and enhance freshwater habitats for plants and animals.
