552
interconnected relationship that links the wetlands with the people in more than just the material sense. Wetlands have been providing food,
plants for weaving, medicines, dyes, canoe landing sites and places to season timber and to store
taonga. Increasing recognition of and respect for
the rights and traditions of Maori bring some new
responsibilities and, more importantly, give
enrichment to an emerging bicultural perspective
on conservation, which opens opportunities for
new and innovative approaches in protected area
management.
25.3.1.4 Wetland Research
and Activities
(a) Department of Conservation funds some
research, both in-house and external, into
specifi c wetland-related issues including the
responses of various wetland species to habitat restoration and control of threats (brown
teal), conservation status of aquatic invertebrates and studies of threatened fi sh species
in areas with different riparian habitats.
(b) The department holds inventories on wetlands: WERI database (Wetlands of
Ecological and Regional Importance), SSWI
(Sites of Special Wildlife Interest), etc. These
inventories, particularly the WERI, form an
important basis for the department’s advocacy of appropriate management of wetlands
by private landowners.
(c) A Crown Research Institute, which was formerly part of government organisation, the
Department of Scientifi c and Industrial
Research (DSIR), undertakes research into a
wide range of wetland-related issues. NIWAR
holds freshwater fi sh database and updates
the database every six months.
(d) Most universities within NZ contain a department or departments with some specialist
knowledge on wetlands, including botanical,
biological, zoological, ecological, agricultural and engineering aspects. Lincoln
University has a Department of Natural
Resources Engineering which can provide
specialist advice on hydrology (surface and
groundwater), small earth dams and reservoirs and wetland waste treatment. Waikato
University has specialist knowledge on wetland botany and has a long association with
wetland issues.
(e) The Ecological Society, Botanical Society,
Limnological Society Hydrological Society
and Ornithological Society all have a general
interest in the scientifi c and management
aspects of wetland issues both at local and
national levels.
(f) There are a number of legislations which
favour proper management of wetlands.
(i) The Resource Management Act 1991 is
driven by the principle of sustainability,
and this applies to wetland areas as it
does for other natural resources. The Act
identifi es the consideration of wetlands
as a matter of national importance.
(ii) The Reserves Act 1977 includes a purpose which requires ‘ensuring, as far as
possible, the survival of all indigenous
species of fl ora and fauna, both rare and
common place, in their natural communities and habitats, and the preservation
of representative samples of all classes
of natural ecosystems and landscapes.’
(iii) The Conservation Act 1987 promotes
the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic resources.
(iv) Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983
are administered by the department.
The aspects included are regulations to
ensure the passage of fi sh. Dams and
fl oodgates can severely restrict the
movements of migratory fi sh. The regulations also cover fi sh licences, obligation on season’s fi shing, marking fi sh,
control of noxious fi sh, indigenous
management, etc.
25.3.1.5 Organisations Involved with
Wetlands
Many organisations are involved in activities
with wetlands. Some of these are the Department
of Conservation, the universities, Queen
Elizabeth II National Trust, Fish and Game
Councils, the Ecological Society, Botanical
Society, Limnological Society and Ornithological
Society and so on.
25 Wetlands of Australasia
interconnected relationship that links the wetlands with the people in more than just the material sense. Wetlands have been providing food,
plants for weaving, medicines, dyes, canoe landing sites and places to season timber and to store
taonga. Increasing recognition of and respect for
the rights and traditions of Maori bring some new
responsibilities and, more importantly, give
enrichment to an emerging bicultural perspective
on conservation, which opens opportunities for
new and innovative approaches in protected area
management.
25.3.1.4 Wetland Research
and Activities
(a) Department of Conservation funds some
research, both in-house and external, into
specifi c wetland-related issues including the
responses of various wetland species to habitat restoration and control of threats (brown
teal), conservation status of aquatic invertebrates and studies of threatened fi sh species
in areas with different riparian habitats.
(b) The department holds inventories on wetlands: WERI database (Wetlands of
Ecological and Regional Importance), SSWI
(Sites of Special Wildlife Interest), etc. These
inventories, particularly the WERI, form an
important basis for the department’s advocacy of appropriate management of wetlands
by private landowners.
(c) A Crown Research Institute, which was formerly part of government organisation, the
Department of Scientifi c and Industrial
Research (DSIR), undertakes research into a
wide range of wetland-related issues. NIWAR
holds freshwater fi sh database and updates
the database every six months.
(d) Most universities within NZ contain a department or departments with some specialist
knowledge on wetlands, including botanical,
biological, zoological, ecological, agricultural and engineering aspects. Lincoln
University has a Department of Natural
Resources Engineering which can provide
specialist advice on hydrology (surface and
groundwater), small earth dams and reservoirs and wetland waste treatment. Waikato
University has specialist knowledge on wetland botany and has a long association with
wetland issues.
(e) The Ecological Society, Botanical Society,
Limnological Society Hydrological Society
and Ornithological Society all have a general
interest in the scientifi c and management
aspects of wetland issues both at local and
national levels.
(f) There are a number of legislations which
favour proper management of wetlands.
(i) The Resource Management Act 1991 is
driven by the principle of sustainability,
and this applies to wetland areas as it
does for other natural resources. The Act
identifi es the consideration of wetlands
as a matter of national importance.
(ii) The Reserves Act 1977 includes a purpose which requires ‘ensuring, as far as
possible, the survival of all indigenous
species of fl ora and fauna, both rare and
common place, in their natural communities and habitats, and the preservation
of representative samples of all classes
of natural ecosystems and landscapes.’
(iii) The Conservation Act 1987 promotes
the conservation of New Zealand’s natural and historic resources.
(iv) Freshwater Fisheries Regulations 1983
are administered by the department.
The aspects included are regulations to
ensure the passage of fi sh. Dams and
fl oodgates can severely restrict the
movements of migratory fi sh. The regulations also cover fi sh licences, obligation on season’s fi shing, marking fi sh,
control of noxious fi sh, indigenous
management, etc.
25.3.1.5 Organisations Involved with
Wetlands
Many organisations are involved in activities
with wetlands. Some of these are the Department
of Conservation, the universities, Queen
Elizabeth II National Trust, Fish and Game
Councils, the Ecological Society, Botanical
Society, Limnological Society and Ornithological
Society and so on.
25 Wetlands of Australasia