Mangawhai sandspit

Today's the day ...................... to conserve

(Mangawhai means stream of the stingray)

Forming a broad shallow estuary, the tidal Mangawhai River empties sluggishly into the ocean, protected from the open sea by a long sandspit. The dunes of the spit are now conservation land - the 245-hectare Mangawhai Wildlife Refuge.

The estuary attracts numerous shore birds like oystercatchers, New Zealand dotterels and the elegant pied stilts - but more importantly it is also home to one of New Zealand's most endangered birds - the fairy tern. There are only about 40 NZ fairy terns left in the world. Their decline is due to a combination of habitat loss, predation, disturbance and stormy weather or high tides during their breeding season.

Considering the estuary is also the perfect place for holiday-makers to come and enjoy themselves in the safe, calm, warm water, it is to the credit of the wardens and volunteers of the Department of Conservation that they are obviously managing to keep everyone happy ...............