MUDDY FEET - Auckland Regional Council

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Continuing west toward the Piako River, the vegetation between the mangal and the stopbank
changes little, but Glasswort Salt Marsh becomes increasingly dominant. About five
kilometres east of the Piako River, the salt marsh is about 500 metres wide. Closer to the
Piako River, Sarcocornia is patchy, and kukuraho is present. Within one kilometre of the
Piako River, Coprosma propinqua and C.x cunninghamii, salt marsh ribbonwood and
kukuraho are common. At the mouth of the Piako, the mangal is narrow, but the mangroves
are tall (up to 4 m).
Dense and even aged stands of mangroves line the mouth of the Piako River. Beginning
approximately four kilometres west of the Piako River on the fringes of the stopbank canal
there is extensive mangrove recruitment. There are large areas of Sarcocornia salt marsh.
Approximately five kilometres east of Waitakaruru there is considerable new growth of
mangroves, an area browsed by stock in the mid-1990s). Kukuraho is established throughout
the salt marsh close to the Waitakaruru River. Mud crabs (Helice crassa) and mud whelks
were abundant.
Major vegetation types
Extensive and near continuous mangals occur, up to 500 metres wide, at the mouth of the
Waihou River. Mangroves near the Piako River are tall and occur in dense stands.
The Glasswort Salt Marsh is dominated by Sarcocornia and interspersed with batchelor’s
button and occasional salt marsh ribbonwood, Coprosma and pohuehue. Adventive species in
this area include Cortaderia selloana and Scotch thistle (Cirsium vulgare). Although we did
not see any Spartina, a subsequent aerial survey (Thomson, 2000) established that Spartina is
present in the salt marsh. Phragmites australis and Paspalum distichum were also noted.
3.2.3 Hot Springs Drain to Waitakaruru (November 1998)
At the mouth of the Hot Springs Drain (on the western shore of the Firth, south of Miranda)
considerable build up of shells was noted. The area is characterised by near-continuous
mangroves, and extensive Sarcocornia salt marsh with dense swathes of bachelor's button.
Kukuraho is present along with annuals and introduced grasses. Salt marsh ribbonwood is
common in the vicinity of the Hot Springs Drain. Large areas of mangrove dieback were
recorded adjacent to, and south of, the Karito Canal (see chapter 4).
Major vegetation types
There is extensive and nearly continuous cover of mangals along this coast from the Miranda
Stream south to the Waitakaruru River. Glasswort-dominated salt marsh is interspersed with
batchelor’s button and salt marsh ribbonwood. Coprosma propinqua, C.x cunninghamii and
pohuehue were present, but occasional.
During an additional survey along the southern margin of the Karito Canal (26 July 2001) the
following plants were found seaward of the stopbank floodgate:
Family Juncaceae
Juncus maritimus Lamarck var. australiensis Buchenau (Sea Rush)
Family Poaceae
*Agrostis stolonifera L. (Creeping Bent)
*Polypogon monspeliensis (L.) Desf. (Beard Grass)
*Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub (Tall Fescue)
Family Polygonaceae
Muehlenbeckia complexa (Cunningham) Meissner (Pohuehue)
EcoQuest Education Foundation EQRS/1 12/04