Protecting and restoring our region’s diverse and vulnerable ecosystems helps to increase the health of our waterways, biodiversity, and communities.

There are at least 45 distinct ecosystem types in the Wellington region. These range from alpine tussock lands and native forests, to wetlands, estuaries and floodplains, and the coastal rocky cliffs and sandy beaches.

Some ecosystem types are particularly at risk, such as coastal dunes and wetlands.

About our ecosystems

Forests

The climate, soil and land forms of our region gave rise to the diverse range of forests that once covered 782,000 ha of the region.

Waterways

Waterways in our region are interconnected. Small streams and powerful rivers are all important to the health of our freshwater, environment, and our communities.

Wetlands

In the Wellington region, we have a number of different types of wetlands which are home to different ecosystems.

Coastal

Sand dunes are important natural areas, not only for their ecological significance but also because they protect our beaches and coastal areas from erosion.

Your planting and conservation projects

Updated June 14, 2022 at 3:07 PM

Get in touch

Phone:
0800496734
Email:
info@gw.govt.nz

Further information

Environmental data and information