Tahakopa Bay Podocarp Swamp

Description: Swamp forests within Tahakopa Bay Scenic Reserve, inland of Tahakopa Bay, between the lower Maclennan River and the coast. 1

Type/Class: Forest Swamp. 2

Size: 4.8 ha.

Altitude: 0 - 20 m above sea level.

Approximate location: 2 km Northeast of Papatowai. NZTM (centre point): E1331400 N4838900.

Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.144, Map F50.

Territorial Authority: Clutha District Council.

 

Interactive map of Tahakopa Bay Podocarp Swamp

Recorded Values

Value Description
A4 High degree of wetland naturalness. 1
A5 Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. Scarce wetland type. Areas of young podocarp (Podocarpus sp.) swamp forest (with small areas of open water) and mixed podocarp (Podocarpus sp.) – beech swamp forests, such as these, are now uncommon in the Otago Region. 1 Less than 15% of swamps remain in Otago. 2
A1 - A3, A6 - A9 No relevant information is currently held by the ORC.

 

Other Information

  • Composition of shrubs, white pine/kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides), Coprosma sp. and Carex sp. 2

  • Called Tahakopa Bay in the Clutha District Plan, where it is listed as a Significant Wetland. Described as shrub swamp, rush and sedge swamp, flax swamp and lowland lake, and as a nationally significant forest sequence from swamp to high podocarp (Podocarpus sp.) forest. 37

  • Middens from Moa camps are evident at Tahakopa Bay. 64

 

 

Aerial view of Tahakopa Bay Podocarp Swamp (March 2006)

 

 

Tahakopa Bay Podocarp Swamp (August 2006) 94

 

References

1 Otago Regional Council (2004) Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Published by the Otago Regional Council, Dunedin.

2 Ausseil, A.G., Newsome, P., Johnson, P. (2008) Wetland Mapping in the Otago Region. Landcare Research Contract Report prepared for the Otago Regional Council.

37 Clutha District Council (1998) Clutha District Plan. Published by the Clutha District Council, Balclutha.

64 Department of Conservation (2006) The Catlins – Nugget Point to Waipapa Point. Published by the Department of Conservation – Otago Conservancy, Christchurch.

94 Department of Conservation – Photo Archive.