Adapted by Ministry for the Environment and Statistics New Zealand to provide for environmental reporting transparency. Dataset used to develop the "Wetland area" indicator (available at https://www.stats.govt.nz/indicators/wetland-area).
This dataset measures change in wetland area in New Zealand from 1996 to 2018. We report on net change in wetland area for New Zealand and by region. When a wetland is lost or gained, we also show how the underlying landcover might have changed as this can provide insights into what is causing the loss or gain in wetlands.
Wetlands are taonga, supporting high levels of biodiversity, and contribute vital ecological functions. They provide habitat and breeding grounds for taonga species including indigenous invertebrates, plants, fish (for example, kōkopu and tuna (eels)), and bird species (for example, mātātā (fernbird)), many of which live only in wetlands. Wetlands act as ‘kidneys’ and giant sponges – they clean the water of excess nutrients and sediment, control flood water and pollutants, and act as carbon sinks (removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere). Wetlands have strong cultural, economic, and spiritual importance for Māori. They are a key source of mātauranga (knowledge), material and resources for mahinga kai (traditional food resources), rongoā (traditional Māori medicine), raranga (weaving), and whakairo (carving).
More information on this dataset and how it relates to our environmental reporting indicators and topics can be found in the attached data quality pdf. Summary report available at https://environment.govt.nz/publications/environment-aotearoa-2022/.
