Description: Ecologically valuable groundwater spring (and possibly spring-fed stream) flax wetland. ⁸⁷

Type/Class: Swamp. ¹⁰²

Size: 6.9 ha.

Altitude: 60 - 70m above sea level.

Approximate location: 1.4 km North of the intersection of Gibson Road and McPherson Road, Pukeuri Junction, Maheno. NZTM (centre point): E1438580 N5024240

Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.171, Map F61.

Territorial Authority: Waitaki District Council.

Interactive map of Te Hua Taki Wetland

• This lowland swamp is spring-fed, but has drains along its north-eastern and southwestern boundaries. ¹⁰²
  
  
• Drains and open water contain musk (Mimulus guttatus), watercress (Nasturtium microphyllum), Azolla filiculoides, and water speedwell (Veronica anagallis-aquatica). The wetland contains tall crack willow (Salix fragilis) and grey willow (S. cinerea) forest, ponds, raupo (Typha orientalis) reedland, bracken (Pteridium esculentum) fernland, and harakeke (Phormium tenax) flaxland. ¹⁰²
  
  
• Under the willow forest are blackberry (Rubus fruticosus agg.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus), cleavers (Galium aparine), Hypolepis ambigua, scattered rautahi (Carex coriacea), swamp kiokio (Blechnum minus), and purei (Carex secta), and standing water with duckweed (Lemnor minor). ¹⁰²
  
  
•  Ponds are surrounded by raupo, purei, and rushes (Juncus edgariae). The harakeke flaxland and bracken fernland form a matrix that is partly smothered in pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia australis) and also contains scattered cabbage tree (Cordyline australis), elder (Sambucus nigra), exotic fuchsia (Fuchsia sp.), bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara), crack willow, a single radiata pine (Pinus radiata), and a few Coprosma propinqua. ¹⁰²
  
  
• There are a few Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra) on wetland margins. ¹⁰²
  
  
• The northeastern side of the wetland is fenced, but the south-western side is grazed by cattle to keep the weeds down. ¹⁰²
  
  
• Four native bird species have been recorded in the wetland. These are South Island Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa fuliginosa), Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus), Welcome Swalllow (Hurindo tahitica neoxena). ¹⁰²
  
  
• New Zealand Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) was observed in pasture near the wetland. New Zealand Pied Oystercatcher is classified as At Risk _declining in Miskelly et al. (2008). ¹⁰²
  
  
• Introduced bird species observed in the wetland include Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) and Australasian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen). ¹⁰²