A tour by drone, piloted by Stephen Hartley of Victoria University.
Ducks Unlimited, in association with DOC have converted 132Ha of wasteland into a viable habitat for waterfowl and other wetland inhabitants.
Local legend has it that the Wairio Wetland (Wetland), located on the eastern shores of Lake Wairarapa (Lake) was once a paradise, providing habitat for substantial numbers of waterfowl and aquatic species. The 132 hectare Wetland was adversely affected by the
Lower Wairarapa Valley Development Scheme (LWVDS) during the 1960/70s which resulted in large areas bordering the Lake being drained and cleared of forest and sedges.
The construction of Parera Rd which separated the Wetland from the adjacent Matthews Lagoon & Boggy Pond wetlands cut off critical water flows. Seed from willow trees planted in the upper reaches of tributaries of the Ruamahunga River for erosion control
also invaded the Wetland. The resultant willow infestation was subsequently felled and bulldozed into parallel wind-rows, running east-to-west across the Wetland. In short, the Wetland was a seriously “modified” site.
