About the project

The project aims to restore Tārerekautuku Yarrs Lagoon - one of the largest freshwater wetlands remaining within the former central Canterbury Plains swamp. The project will include: willow and weed eradication, pest control, native planting programmes, and riparian works, helping to restore and enhance native biodiversity and cultural values, as well as improve water quality and restore hydrological function.

The Council has been successful in gaining funding through the Ministry of Environment Freshwater Improvement Fund to the tune of $796,980.00 over a period of four and a half years. The project is part of the Governments Jobs for Nature Program and will employ 8 FTE's over the course of the funding.

The total project cost is $1,738,987.75, the balance being funded by the Council and co-funding from Environment Canterbury and Living Water (Department of Conservation and Fonterra partnership). Support of the project has been given by the local Rūnanga - Te Taumutu.

The Tārerekautuku wetland project is also supported by the Te Waihora Co-Governance (a joint partnership between Ngai Tahu, Environment Canterbury, Selwyn District Council, Christchurch City Council and the Department of Conservation).  This partnership seeks the restoration of 3,500ha of wetlands around Te Waihora and the lake itself.

Tārerekautuku was formerly an open water body surrounded by low-lying swamp and a key mahinga kai site for Ngai Tahu. Following European settlement the catchment including the Lagoon was drained for agricultural purposes. Land drainage practices and land clearance resulted in the lowering of the water table transforming the open water body to swamp and marsh habitat. Over time the wetland has been invaded by introduced willow and other exotic species and surrounding land has been transformed into cultivated paddocks.

The vegetation of Tārerekautuku is now dominated by introduced grey (Salix cinerea) and crack (Salix x fragilis) willow. However there is still a rich understory of native species in parts of the wetland including some plants that are now locally uncommon.

An overall work program has been developed with the following objectives by June 2026:

  • willow control and other weed control will be completed across approximately 87 ha in the Tārerekautuku/ Yarrs Lagoon Wetland. Wider Te Waihora wetlands weed control programme will have been undertaken by the DoC lead Te Waihora Weed Strike Force;
  • at least 81.59 ha of predator control will be completed within the Tārerekautuku wetland and surrounding catchment. Target species include mustelids, rats, and possums;
  • sediment loads are reduced through instream works (including possible installation of up to five sediment traps or equivalent) and waterways re-battering work (approx. 2,000 m), including installing up to three culverts or bridges for site access;
  • indigenous biodiversity habitat will be increased and seed sources will be created by planting at least 12,516 native plants and trees across 8 ha of Tārerekautuku wetland and connecting waterways;
  • a monitoring programme will be in place at the Tārerekautuku wetland for Mātauranga Māori values and to measure ecological change over time.MuteSwans_YarrsLagoon_Hayes_May19 (7)