Lake Wainamu is a small
lake near
Te Henga (Bethells Beach) in the
Auckland Region
Auckland () is one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland Metropolitan Area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Containing ...
of
New Zealand. It is located south-west of
Lake Kawaupaka.
Geography
Lake Wainamu is fed by three streams to the south: the Wainamu Stream, Plum Pudding Stream
and the Houghton Gully stream. Traditionally, these were referred to as Waitohi (baptismal rite stream), Waikūkū (kūkupa/
kererū stream), and Toetoeroa (referring to the
toetoe
''Austroderia'' is a genus of five species of tall grasses native to New Zealand, commonly known as toetoe. grass).
The mouth of the Wainamu Stream is the location of the Wainamu Falls, also traditionally known as Waitohi.
Lake Wainamu drains into the Waitī Stream, a catchment of the
Waitākere River.
7,000 years ago, when sea-levels rose after the
Last Glacial Maximum
The Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), also referred to as the Late Glacial Maximum, was the most recent time during the Last Glacial Period that ice sheets were at their greatest extent.
Ice sheets covered much of Northern North America, Northern Eur ...
, the lake formed a part of the
Waitākere River tidal estuary. Over time,
Tasman Sea sand accumulated at Te Henga, forming a beach and allowing Lake Wainamu to form as a freshwater dune lake.
A decline in water quality was noted in 1990s and was thought to be caused by exotic fish accelerating the loss of the submerged plant life. In response the Auckland Regional Council removed over 9,000 exotic fish (particularly
perch,
goldfish and
rudd) between 2004 and 2007.
[ In 2009, grass carp were introduced to the lake in an attempt to rid it of introduced egeria.Army of fish to battle nasty weed]
. 24 March 2009. Auckland Regional Council. Accessed 30 March 2009. The lake is also home to native freshwater fish including
banded kokopu,
inanga,
common smelt,
common bully,
grey mullet,
longfin and
short-finned eel.
[Lake Wainamu]
Auckland Regional Council. Accessed 30 March 2009.
Biodiversity
The lake is a breeding ground for the
New Zealand pipit, and is a habitat for ''
Spinifex'',
pīngao
''Ficinia spiralis'' (pīngao, pīkao, or golden sand sedge) is a coastal sedge endemic to New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands). Originally widespread, it has suffered severely from competition with introduced marram grass and animal graz ...
,
marram grass,
pampas and coastal
toetoe
''Austroderia'' is a genus of five species of tall grasses native to New Zealand, commonly known as toetoe. .
History
The lake is within the traditional
rohe of
Te Kawerau ā Maki, and was known as Roto Wainamu.
The name refers to the
sandflies or mosquitos that were commonly found near the lake.
The lake was part of the greater
Te Henga / Bethells Beach
Te Henga, or Bethells Beach, is a coastal community in West Auckland, New Zealand. The Māori name for the area, "Te Henga", is in reference to the long foredunes which run along the beach and look like the or gunwale of an upturned waka hull ...
and
Waitākere River area of settlements, with the locality of Ōhuhu found on the western shores of the lake, and the fortified
pā
The word pā (; often spelled pa in English) can refer to any Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and defensive terraces – and also to fortified villages. Pā sites o ...
of Poutūterangi and Te Pae Kākā to the south-east of the lake.
Te Pae Kākā was a
pā
The word pā (; often spelled pa in English) can refer to any Māori village or defensive settlement, but often refers to hillforts – fortified settlements with palisades and defensive terraces – and also to fortified villages. Pā sites o ...
site named after the
kākā parrot.
Te Kawerau ā Maki
rangatira Kowhatukiteuru built two stone pā near Lake Wainamu: Pakowhatu and Koropōtiki.
The lake and the lake's catchment were a site for the
kauri logging industry between 1921 and 1925. Streams which fed the lake were dammed, and once water levels were high enough, the logs were flushed downstream to the lake, after which they were transported to the
Waitākere railway station.
In 1954, Lake Wainamu and the surrounding land was bought by Happy and Elizabeth Wheeler from landowner Harold Houghton.
In the 1970s, the Wheeler family sold the lake to the
Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, and the area was opened up to visitors.
Gallery
File:Lake Wainamu (AM PH-1958-1-15444).jpg, Lake Wainamu in the late 19th or early 20th century
File:Lake Wainamu.jpg, View of Lake Wainamu from the Lake Wainamu Walk
See also
*
List of lakes in New Zealand
This is a list of lakes in New Zealand.
A lake's location is identified by the region and either the territorial authority or national park (N.P.).
There are:
* 43 lakes with a surface area larger than 10 km² (1000 ha)
* 231 la ...
References
{{Waitākere Ranges Local Board Area
Wainamu
Waitākere Ranges
Waitākere Ranges Local Board Area
West Auckland, New Zealand