Lenz Reserve Wetlands

Description: Swamp/bog wetlands within the Lenz Private Scenic Reserve, 34 km South of Owaka, in the Fleming River Valley. 1

Type/Class: Swamp and marsh. 2

Size: 68.2 ha.

Altitude: 0–20 m above sea level.

Approximate Location: Chaslands Highway, 3.5 km Southwest of Papatowai | NZTM (centre point): E1325940 N4835750 

Regional Plan: Water for Otago | Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.81, Map F32.

Territorial Authority: Clutha District Council.

 

Interactive map of Lenz Reserve Wetlands

Recorded Values

Value Description
A4 High degree of wetland naturalness. 2
A5 Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. Scarce wetland types. An intact peat dome (Sphagnum sp. two metres above forest floor) surrounded by forest and a remnant white pine/kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides) and swamp forest. 1 Less than 15% of swamps and marshes remain in Otago. 2
A1 - A3, A6 - A9 No relevant information is currently held by the ORC.

Other Information

  • Presence of South Island Fernbird (Bowdleria punctata punctata), New Zealand Pigeon/Kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), Shining Cuckoo/Pipiwharauroa (Chrysococcyx lucidus lucidus), Australasian Harrier/Kahu (Circus approximans), Bellbird (Anthornis melanura), Yellow-breasted Tit, Brown Creeper/Pipipi (Mohoua novaeseelandiae), Grey Warbler (Gerygone igata), Pipits (Motacillidae), Kingfishers (Alcedinidae), Long-tailed Cuckoo/Koekoea (Eudynamys taitensis), Grey Duck (Anas superciliosa) and the threatened Yellow-crowned Parakeet/Kakariki (Cyanoramphus auriceps auriceps) and Red-crowned Parakeet/Kakariki (Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae novaezelandiae). 41
  • Significant Wetland in the Clutha District Plan. Described as shrub swamp, rush and sedge swamp, flax swamp, and slow single-channel river. Provides an important part of the Tautuku Bay landscape. 37
  • Owned by Forest and Bird.
Aerial View of Lenz Reserve Wetlands (March 2006)

References

1 Otago Regional Council (2004) Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Published by the Otago Regional Council, Dunedin.

2 Ausseil, A.G., Newsome, P., Johnson, P. (2008) Wetland Mapping in the Otago Region. Landcare Research Contract Report prepared for the Otago Regional Council.

37 Clutha District Council (1998) Clutha District Plan. Published by the Clutha District Council, Balclutha.

41 Reserves – Lenz Reserve. Retrieved from New Zealand Forest and Bird Online. http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/reserves/lenz-reserve.