A final extension to Pohangina Wetlands (Manawatu) is being developed; more land with an
aquifer is available as Pohangina Wetlands meets Weka Street drain that takes water from
parts of the Pohangina Village to the Pohangina River.

The extension will become a raupo swamp and will filter all the surface water flowing over all the
five blocks comprising Pohangina Wetlands. This will become an educational example to visitors of
the utility of a raupo habitat and additionally attract wild life not presently seen in the wetlands,
hopefully including the bittern and the fernbird.

Pohangina Wetlands began in 2001 when Gordon and Anne Pilone established a charitable trust
and formed the Pohangina Wetlands Development. Two 2.5 hectare blocks of very wet farmland
were purchased adjacent to the one hectare homesite block. Ponds and plantings of native bushes
and trees began (Flight issue 120 July 2004), and in December 2005 the wetland block along the
Pohangina road, the kahikatea block, was opened to visitors (Flight issue 127 April 2006). By 2007,
the major digging of ponds and plantings were completed, including a lookout area over the big
pond in the damsite block. Also opened to visitors.

In 2010 more wet land was acquired, increasing the Pohangina Wetlands by 1.5 hectares, and
allowed the development of a habitat of mostly rushes flooded with surface water from a drain
ditch and two artificial artesian springs created from a drain pipe bisecting the Culling block
(Flight issue 146 Feb 2011).

Anne thought this was the end of development but Gordon had other ideas. Since the surface
water from all the wetland blocks eventually entered a drain behind the big pond of the damsite
block, ultimately to flow to the river, an idea to filter this water through raupo was possible if
additional land could be purchased. Thankfully, the neighbouring farm agreed and a raupo swamp
is now being developed on the additional 0.2 hectare raupo block with the help of DU member
Tim Luttrell and his digger.

Including the private home block, Pohangina Wetlands is now 7.6 hectares (19 acres) with 27
ponds on 16 levels. Five ponds have an island.

Besides lots of pukekos and mallards breeding in the various habitats, two pair of dabchicks have
taken permanent residence producing chicks over several seasons. Many other wetland birds are
seen seasonally as well as all sorts of insects and native fish and eels.

Pohangina Wetlands is a good example of taking marginal very wet farmland and creating habitats
for wildlife to flourish and be enjoyed by all. We would love to see DU members visit and stop in to
say hello.
Gordon Pilone

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