Manawatu river mouth and estuary | |
---|---|
Location | North Island, New Zealand |
Nearest city | Foxton Beach |
Coordinates | 40°28′37″S 175°12′43″E / 40.4768489°S 175.2119703°E |
Area | 200 hectares (490 acres) |
Official name | Manawatu river mouth and estuary |
Designated | 25 July 2005 |
Reference no. | 1491[1] |
The Manawatu Estuary is an estuary at the mouth of the Manawatu River, near Foxton Beach in the lower North Island of New Zealand. It is a wetland of international significance as one of the few Ramsar sites in New Zealand. At approximately 250 hectares (620 acres),[2] the Manawatu Estuary is the largest estuary in the lower North Island.[3]
A total of 93 different bird species have been identified at the estuary. In 2005 the estuary attained Ramsar status.[4]
During spring migratory birds arrive for the summer at the estuary, including the bar-tailed godwit, red knot, Pacific golden plover, Japanese snipe, wandering tattler and whimbrel.[5]