Key Biodiversity Areas

Waitaki River (44610)
New Zealand, Australasia

Site overview


KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1aA1cD1a
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Waitaki River
Central coordinates: Latitude: -44.9282, Longitude: 171.1005
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 500
Area of KBA (km2): 95.09564
Protected area coverage (%): 20.87
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes

Site details


Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: IBA Trigger species: Black-billed Gull, Black-fronted Tern Besides the trigger species the following species are confirmed or likely to be breeding: Black Shag, Little Shag, Spotted Shag, White-faced Heron, Canada Goose, Paradise Shelduck, Mallard, Grey Duck, Australasian Harrier, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Variable Oystercatcher, Pied Stilt, Banded Dotterel, Spur-winged Plover, Southern Black-backed Gull, White-fronted Tern, Rock Pigeon, NZ Kingfisher, Welcome Swallow, NZ Pipit, Grey Warbler, Silvereye, Skylark, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, House Sparrow, Starling, Australian Magpie.

Habitats


IUCN HabitatCoverage %Habitat detail
Marine Neritic5
Shrubland23
Wetlands(Inland)23
Marine Intertidal5
Grassland23
Introduced Vegetation23

Additional information


References: Boffa Miskell 2006. North Bank Tunnel Concept water consents. Terrestrial ecology assessment. Report prepared for Me-ridian Energy. Christchurch, Boffa Miskell. DOC River Survey Database (2013). McKinlay B 1990. Manuherikia River survey. Unpublished file report BIR 7. Dunedin, Department of Conservation. O’Donnell CFJ, Moore SGM 1983. The wildlife and conservation of braided river systems in Canterbury. Fauna Survey Unit Report 33. Wellington, New Zealand Wildlife Service, Department of Internal Affairs. 73 p. O’Donnell, C.F.J., Hoare, J.M. 2011. Meta-analysis of status and trends in breeding populations of black-fronted terns (Chlidonias albostriatus) 1962-2008. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 35: 32-43 Robertson CJR, Law E, de Hamel RJB, Wakelin DJ, Courtney SP 1984. Habitat requirements of wetland birds in the lower Waitaki River catchment, New Zealand. Occasional Publication 6. Wellington, New Zealand Wildlife Service, Department of Internal Affairs. 769 p.