Whitebait Creek
Depsite extensive research, I have not been able to find the original Maori name for this small outlet stream, nor the name of the dune lake it flows from, despite it being larger than the nearby Lake Koputara and Lake Kaikokopu (Himatangi Beach). NZ Hunting and Fishing have it listed as Lake Omanu, but this is not the original name, and has only been used to refer to this lake in the last 40 years.
These small dune lakes, located along the coast from Pekapeka in the South through to Wanganui in the North, were an integral part of life for Maori living in the area, but also provided vital food supplies for early European settlers to the area.
The lakes are formed by water being prevented from flowing directly out to sea by the coastal dunes, and are the home of Inanga, (a name commonly used to refer to the juvenile of several important, and also threatened, native fish species which in English are also called whitebait), Kokopu, Koaro, Bullies, and several species of non migratory Galaxiids, as well as Eels, Mudfish and ,the now extinct, Grey Ling. The wetland areas that formerly surrounded these lakes, were also home to the critically endangered Fern Bird, which is no longer seen in this area.
Poor land management, and farming practices such as large scale drainage, felling and clearing of native flora, and over stocking of dairy herds, as well as environmental changes, have all contributed to the loss, or reduction in size of these unique and fragile ecosystems.
This small stream shows clear signs of algae and invasive, introduced water plants which also choke and smother native water plants and restrict movement of juvenile migratory fish returning from their spawning grounds. The reduction in numbers of whitebait over the past 20 years has been linked to loss of habitat, and degradation of waterways, crucial to the survival and well being of the adult fish.
You can help by keeping informed about developments in coastal areas, and making submissions to local authorities and government agencies when public submissions are open, as well as joining local replanting groups, and taking part in CITO events.
These caches have been placed, so that hopefully a few more people become aware of this often overlooked, and underpublicised loss of unique and ecologically important habitats.