Marlborough Wetlands

The Marlborough of today is more renowned for its dry hills than its wetlands. Hot dry summers and parched landscapes come to mind when most people think of Marlborough. However, if we could turn back the clock and go back to the 1840’s things would be different. Very large areas of wetlands were once found in the lowlands of Marlborough, particularly around the Blenheim area. In those days Blenheim was known as Beavertown, and travel across the Wairau Plain was an arduous journey during the winter.

The wetlands have now been almost eliminated with approximately 1 % of the original freshwater wetland area remaining on the Wairau Plain. This means that each and every one of our remaining wetlands is worthy of protection and restoration.

In 2001 an inventory of Marlborough’s wetlands was produced that provided on overview of the freshwater wetlands in the Marlborough District. The inventory assessed the current extent of the wetlands, the types of wetlands and the threats faced by the wetlands. The major data sources for the inventory were the NZMS 260 maps and some limited aerial photographic coverage of the district.

In early review of the wetlands inventory was began to take advantage of the changes to the coverage and resolution of aerial photography that have occurred since 2001. The updated inventory will define the extent of existing wetlands and apply significance criteria to the wetlands which will more clearly define the extent of the remaining wetlands. The updated inventory is due to be released in early 2010.