Glistening waters that’s what Wairarapa means in te reo Māori. Welcome to Lake Wairarapa a place of immense historical and ecological significance. This lake sits at the southern end of New Zealand’s North Island. It is about 50 kilometers east of Wellington.
Lake Wairarapa covers 78 square kilometers. It is the third largest lake in the North Island. Only Lake Rotorua is fractionally bigger. The nearest town is Featherston. It lies just five kilometers from Lake Wairarapa’s northern shore.
For centuries Lake Wairarapa has been a vital food source for Māori. Its waters teem with waterfowl and fish species. Many are uncommon elsewhere in New Zealand.
Oral histories tell tales of the Polynesian explorer Kupe. Some say he named these wetlands. He touched down here several times. Other stories credit the explorer Haunui. He named the wetlands. He saw how the lake glistened from the Remutaka Ranges to the west.
Lake Wairarapa forms part of the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands. This regional park is under the care of several entities. These include the Wellington Regional Council Kahungunu ki Wairarapa. Also the Department of Conservation South Wairarapa District Council and Rangitāne o Wairarapa are involved.
These wetlands stand as the largest in the lower North Island. They rank among New Zealand’s largest. In August 2020 they gained international recognition. The Ramsar Convention designated them as a wetland of international significance.
The lake’s catchment area is extensive. It encompasses the eastern slopes of the Remutaka and Tararua Ranges. Lake Wairarapa receives water from various rivers. Originally it served as the main outflow for the Ruamahanga River. This river drained slowly into Palliser Bay and Cook Strait. It flowed ten kilometers south near Lake Ferry. This route passed via what we now know as Lake Ōnoke.
In the 1960s the river’s course was altered. This change aimed to improve flow and reduce flooding for farmers. Today the lake’s area is smaller than its historical size. It once spanned approximately 210 square kilometers.
The land around Lake Wairarapa is low-lying and swampy. Efforts are underway to preserve its vital wetland features. The goal is to restore wildlife habitats. These habitats have suffered degradation from human activity. Agriculture river development flood control and waterway diversions are the causes. They have drained large areas of the wetlands. This reduced their ecological value.
Sadly Lake Wairarapa is classed as supertrophic. This means it is heavily polluted. Nitrates leach from the surrounding intensive agriculture. This issue reflects a broader trend. Agriculture is polluting New Zealand’s rivers and lakes.
Despite these challenges Lake Wairarapa remains a place of beauty. It is a place of cultural and ecological importance. Efforts continue to restore and protect this taonga. Lake Wairarapa’s glistening waters hold stories of the past. They hold hopes for the future.