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Waiau Glacier Coast Marine Reserve
Waiho River in full flood
Waiau Glacier Coast Marine ReserveLocation in New Zealand
Location	West Coast Region, New Zealand
Nearest city	Franz Josef
Coordinates	43°17′07″S 170°03′17″E / 43.28530°S 170.05472°E / -43.28530; 170.05472
Area	4,641 hectares (11,470 acres)
Established	2014
Governing body	Department of Conservation

Waiau Glacier Coast Marine Reserve is a marine reserve of the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. It covers an area of 4,641 hectares or 46 km, from 11 km south from Kohuamarua Bluff near Ōkārito, to Omoeroa Bluff, and about 4 km out to sea.

The reserve takes its name from the Waiho or Waiau River, and the nearby Franz Josef and other glaciers.

The reserve is situated alongside Westland Tai Poutini National Park and Te Wāhipounamu World Heritage Area.

Geography

The Westland Current has also swept gravel and sand north over thousands of years, creating a buffer to the ferocious Tasman Sea, protecting the coastal sea and waterways. The waterways include the Waiho River, Three Mile Lagoon and Five Mile Lagoon.

The river and lagoons in turn feed the area with glacial flow from thick rainforest. Moraine debris and runoff have made the beaches are gravelly and the seabed muddy, and have created distinctive lumpy headlands. There are also regular heavy rainfall events.

History

The reserve was one of five recommended by a forum of Ngāi Tahu, commercial and recreational fishers, conservationists, tourism operators and local councils in 2012. These became the first marine reserves on the West Coast.

The reserve was approved by the Government in March 2013,. It was formally established and opened by Conservation Minister Nick Smith on 7 September 2014.

In April 2019, Forest and Bird asked the Ministry for the Environment to support Westland District Council in cleaning up a large rubbish spill, including potentially toxic waste. In July 2019, the New Zealand Defence Force sent personnel to clean up the nearby Fox River.

Recreation

Visitors can access the reserve by 4WD from the north, via the Three Mile track from Ōkārito, or via the Neils Creek walking and mountain biking track. Hazards include waves on the beach and swift currents in the rivers and lagoon mouths.

The reserve is limited to passive recreation, and limited activities that keep disturbance to a minimum. Permitted activities include riding quad bikes and horses, and collecting a small amount of shells, stones, driftwood, sand and gravel. Pounamu can also be collected by members of Ngāi Tahu Whanui, or with the permission of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Wildlife

The reserve covers a protected zone where calm wetland, lagoons and coastal seas have created five different kinds of habitats.

Fish, invertebrates and seaweed live in the boulder reefs.

See also

• Marine reserves of New Zealand

References

1. ^ "West Coast marine reserves approved". Radio New Zealand. RNZ News. 11 March 2013.
2. "Waiau Glacier Coast Marine Reserve". aa.co.nz. Automobile Association.
3. ^ "Waiau Glacier Coast Marine Reserve". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.
4. "Assessment of West Coast Region coastal sites against indigenous ecological significance criteria" (PDF). envirolink.govt.nz. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (for West Coast Regional Council). July 2013.
5. ^ "Five marine reserves for West Coast". stuff.co.nz. Christchurch Press. 10 March 2013.
6. "Marine Reserve (Waiau Glacier Coast) Order 2014". legislation.govt.nz. New Zealand Government.
7. "New marine reserves on West Coast opened". scoop.co.nz. New Zealand Government. 7 September 2014.
8. "Urgent Government help needed for West Coast rubbish disaster". Forest and Bird. 3 April 2019.
9. "Fox waste spills along Westland coast". Radio Waatea. 5 April 2019.
10. "NZDF sends more personnel for Fox River clean-up". Medium. New Zealand Defence Force. 22 July 2019.
11. "The Marine Reserves on the West Coast of New Zealand". nzpocketguide.com. NZ Pocket Guide. 11 September 2019.

• Marine reserves of New Zealand
• Protected areas of the West Coast Region
• Westland District