Kaituna River

The Kaituna River drains a catchment on the southern slopes of Banks Peninsula into Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. The upper catchment includes native bush, forestry and farmland, while lower areas are mainly pastoral farmland. The hill slopes are susceptible to sediment erosion, and associated phosphorus losses which contribute to the sediment and phosphorus loads to Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere.  The waterways are important for native fish, wetland birds, and mahinga kai values.