Waituna Lagoon

{{Short description|Lagoon in Southland, New Zealand}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2017}}

{{distinguish|Waiuna Lagoon}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Waituna Lagoon

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| location = South Island of New Zealand

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| coordinates = {{coord|46.5662|S|168.5904|E|region:NZ_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}

| type = lagoon

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| pushpin_map = New Zealand

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| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Waituna Lagoon in the South Island of New Zealand.

| pushpin_map_caption = Waituna Lagoon in the South Island to the south-east of Invercargill.

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__NOTOC__

The Waituna Lagoon is on the southern coastline of the South Island of New Zealand. It forms part of the Awarua Wetland, a Ramsar site that was established in 1976. It gives its name to waituna, a type of ephemeral coastal lake.{{Cite book |last=Single, M.B. and Hemmingson, M.A. |title=Ecology and Geomorphology of Coastal Shingle |year=2001 |chapter=Mixed sand and gravel barrier beaches of South Canterbury, New Zealand}}

The lagoon is an important habitat for resident and migratory birds with seventy three different species being recorded. The expansion in the area of Leptocarpus rushes that has been observed over a 47-year period in the lagoon have been attributed to artificial openings of the lagoon to the sea, and the increase in sedimentation.{{Cite book| publisher = Dept. of Conservation| isbn = 9780478223590| last = Thompson| first = R. M. C| author2 =Ryder, G. R. | title = Waituna Lagoon : summary of existing knowledge and identification of knowledge gaps| location = Wellington, N.Z.| year = 2003}}

The lagoon is largely unmodified by human activity but there are elevated nutrient levels, sedimentation and algal blooms with a fear that it may lead to eutrophication.{{cite book|last1=Robertson|first1=Barry |title=Interim recommendations to reduce the risk of Waituna Lagoon from flipping to an algae-dominated state|url=http://www.es.govt.nz/media/14061/waituna_lagoon_guidelines.pdf|date=26 May 2011|publisher=Lagoon Technical Group|display-authors=etal}} Awarua Runaka, Department of Conservation and Environment Southland suggest that cutting an opening through the bar to the sea helps waituna to flush itself.{{Cite news |last=Regional reporter |date=12 July 2024 |title=Joint resource consent application lodged for Waituna Lagoon |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350339230/joint-resource-consent-application-lodged-waituna-lagoon |access-date=13 July 2024 |work=Stuff}}