Pātea Estuary (downstream of the old Pātea Freezing Works)
The Pātea Estuary is a long, shallow, highly modified, well-flushed tidal river estuary located in the South Taranaki Bight near the town of Pātea. Its intertidal habitat is characterised by soft muds, sands, and some saltmarsh dominated by rushland (Juncus kraussii - Searush, Apodasmia similis - Jointed wirerush, Isolepis cernua - Slender clubrush) and herbfield (Sarcocornia quinqueflora - Glasswort) vegetation. It is significant to the people of both, Ngāti Ruanui and Ngaa Rauru Kiitahi. Food sources, gathered from the entire length of this river, included kaakahi (freshwater mussels), kuku, tuna (eels), kanae, piharau, whitebait, smelt, flounder, place, sole, kahawai, taamure, shark and stingray. The estuary catchment is dominated by native forest, dairy and sheep/beef farming and, to a much lesser extent, exotic forest (including consented forestry). Ecologically, habitat diversity is moderate-high with some of its intertidal vegetation intact.
The estuary is very highly susceptible to eutrophication due to its relatively high proportion of intertidal habitat, and its very high nutrient load. Additionally, it is rated as moderate-highly vulnerable to sedimentation as the catchment is naturally erosion prone.
Monitored site results
This dashboard shows information on the data collected by the regional councils and unitary authorities for the Estuary health scientific indicators, click the tiles for more information:
Estuary stressor
Mud content information
What do the grades mean?
Mud content refers to the amount of fine silt and clay particles (collectively called ‘mud’) that are present in the estuary sandflats. This figure shows (mean) annual mud content measured at the monitoring site. The annual values are assessed against custom, national guidelines that indicate increasingly negative impacts on the macrofaunal community.
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≤3%
Ecology is not negatively impacted.
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3-10%
The diversity of the macrofauna community is slightly reduced.
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10-30%
The diversity of the macrofauna community is reduced and less resilient to disturbance.
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30-60%
The macrofauna community is unbalanced and dominated by a small number of tolerant species.
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>60%
The macrofauna community is degraded.
Zinc information
View results alongside National guidelines:
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What do the grades mean?
This figure shows the (mean) annual contaminant concentration measured in the sediments of the monitored site. The annual values are assessed against the ANZG 2018 guidelines by default, and you can choose to view them assessed against several additional, more conservative guidelines. All of the guidelines show how likely it is that the contaminant is having negative ecological impacts. See the Contaminants factsheet for more information.
- Ecological impacts unlikely
- Ecological impacts possible
- Ecological impacts probable
Copper information
View results alongside National guidelines:
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What do the grades mean?
This figure shows the (mean) annual contaminant concentration measured in the sediments of the monitored site. The annual values are assessed against the ANZG 2018 guidelines by default, and you can choose to view them assessed against several additional, more conservative guidelines. All of the guidelines show how likely it is that the contaminant is having negative ecological impacts. See the Contaminants factsheet for more information.
- Ecological impacts unlikely
- Ecological impacts possible
- Ecological impacts probable
Lead information
View results alongside National guidelines:
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What do the grades mean?
This figure shows the (mean) annual contaminant concentration measured in the sediments of the monitored site. The annual values are assessed against the ANZG 2018 guidelines by default, and you can choose to view them assessed against several additional, more conservative guidelines. All of the guidelines show how likely it is that the contaminant is having negative ecological impacts. See the Contaminants factsheet for more information.
- Ecological impacts unlikely
- Ecological impacts possible
- Ecological impacts probable
Arsenic information
View results alongside National guidelines:
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What do the grades mean?
This figure shows the (mean) annual contaminant concentration measured in the sediments of the monitored site. The annual values are assessed against the ANZG 2018 guidelines by default, and you can choose to view them assessed against several additional, more conservative guidelines. All of the guidelines show how likely it is that the contaminant is having negative ecological impacts. See the Contaminants factsheet for more information.
- Ecological impacts unlikely
- Ecological impacts possible
- Ecological impacts probable
Mercury information
View results alongside National guidelines:
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What do the grades mean?
This figure shows the (mean) annual contaminant concentration measured in the sediments of the monitored site. The annual values are assessed against the ANZG 2018 guidelines by default, and you can choose to view them assessed against several additional, more conservative guidelines. All of the guidelines show how likely it is that the contaminant is having negative ecological impacts. See the Contaminants factsheet for more information.
- Ecological impacts unlikely
- Ecological impacts possible
- Ecological impacts probable
Cadmium information
View results alongside National guidelines:
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What do the grades mean?
This figure shows the (mean) annual contaminant concentration measured in the sediments of the monitored site. The annual values are assessed against the ANZG 2018 guidelines by default, and you can choose to view them assessed against several additional, more conservative guidelines. All of the guidelines show how likely it is that the contaminant is having negative ecological impacts. See the Contaminants factsheet for more information.
- Ecological impacts unlikely
- Ecological impacts possible
- Ecological impacts probable
Chromium information
View results alongside National guidelines:
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What do the grades mean?
This figure shows the (mean) annual contaminant concentration measured in the sediments of the monitored site. The annual values are assessed against the ANZG 2018 guidelines by default, and you can choose to view them assessed against several additional, more conservative guidelines. All of the guidelines show how likely it is that the contaminant is having negative ecological impacts. See the Contaminants factsheet for more information.
- Ecological impacts unlikely
- Ecological impacts possible
- Ecological impacts probable
Nickel information
View results alongside National guidelines:
View results alongside alternative guidelines:
What do the grades mean?
This figure shows the (mean) annual contaminant concentration measured in the sediments of the monitored site. The annual values are assessed against the ANZG 2018 guidelines by default, and you can choose to view them assessed against several additional, more conservative guidelines. All of the guidelines show how likely it is that the contaminant is having negative ecological impacts. See the Contaminants factsheet for more information.
- Ecological impacts unlikely
- Ecological impacts possible
- Ecological impacts probable