The Lower Raupo Pond (2014) is the last pond in the wetlands.
Water overflows at the far right (unseen) and enters the Weka Street Drain to Pohangina River.
Someday, this pond will be thick with raupo (bull rush, cat tail) and form a habitat that is new in the Pohangina Wetlands.
It is hoped that the raupo block will allow shy and uncommon wetland birds to be seen, such as fernbird, crakes, and bittern.
This may be wishful thinking as the area is small. But, raupo swamps, too, are ideal as filters for water purification.
So this different habitat in the Pohangina Wetlands will be another example for visitors of the beneficial use of wetlands preservation and creation.
The Lower Raupo Pond (2019) during the dry season when surface water flow is minimal.
Note the raupo is developing, but slowly, compared with the 2014 picture in the above image.
BACK to aerial photo, raupo block.