The Grovetown Lagoon is an oxbow loop of the Wairau River. While it is quite highly modified, it is one of the largest remaining areas of natural value on the Wairau Plain, with areas of open water, swampy ground, springs and adjoining land. It is highly valued by local iwi as a resource for food and plant materials, but has been degraded and altered over time.
A project aimed at restoring the Grovetown Lagoon was initiated in 2002. It was a combined effort between local iwi groups (Te Runanga A Rangitane O Wairau, Ngati Rarua and Ngati Toarangatira), the Marlborough District Council, the Department of Conservation, the Nelson Marlborough Fish and Game Council, the NZ Landcare Trust and the Grovetown community. The group has developed a Community Management Plan and a Landscape Concept Plan to guide management and restoration efforts at the Lagoon and occasional newsletters keep those interested up-to-date with progress.
Go to Grovetown Lagoon website
