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_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}}

Recreational use

{{cite check section|date=September 2024}}

Waituna Lagoon is a common fishing and game bird hunting spot. There is a good supply of brown trout in the lake/lagoon and its tributaries with a daily limit of two trout per person per day.{{Cite web |url=http://southland.fishandgame.org.nz/local-fishing-regulations-0 |title=Local Fishing Regulations | Southland |access-date=20 October 2012 |archive-date=1 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701041900/http://southland.fishandgame.org.nz/local-fishing-regulations-0 |url-status=dead }}

The fishing season runs from 1 October until 30 April.

There is a good range of game bird species, with mallard ducks being the primarily hunted species. Other game bird species hunted during the season include the shoveler/spoonbill, Canada geese (now classified as a pest species), paradise ducks and the black swan (not often targeted by hunters).

Many families traditionally hunt the lake, such as the Carleen, Hourston, Lawson, McNaughton,Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/WeFCuaJ4K-0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160426181740/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeFCuaJ4K-0 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeFCuaJ4K-0| title = Duck Hunting at Waituna Lagoon - Opening Season 2009 | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} Perriam, Thomas, Owen, Carston and Waghorn families who either have camps or live in the area.

See also

References

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