KCPS decided in 2013 that a photographic project focusing on the Waikanae Estuary would be a good way to show people some of the many aspects of the area and its inhabitants, and also publicise and support the work of the Waikanae Estuary Care Group. Our members have a wide range of photographic interests including landscapes, wildlife, plants and people. Seventeen photographers presented their results in this exhibition of 57 prints – some have taken a pictorial approach, others a more documentary focus.

A slideshow of the images is shown below – but for best effect people saw the beautiful mounted prints in the Roderick and Gillian Deane Community Art Space at the Paraparaumu Library, from 19 to 29 August 2014.  The Exhibition was officially opened by the Mayor of KCDC, Ross Church, at a function to which all KCPS members were invited, at 5 pm on Monday 18 August.

A five minute AV of the images is also available on YouTube here.

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Introduction to the Estuary

At Waikanae Estuary freshwater from the Tararua Ranges meets the saltwater of the Kapiti coast. This mixing of the waters and the ever-shifting river mouth create an environment of rich plant and animal communities. The estuary is made up of a mosaic of freshwater lakelets, saltwater lagoons and marshes, tidal sand flats, dunes and a sandy beach.

Fauna and Flora

More species of coastal and aquatic birds visit Waikanae Estuary than any other site on the Wellington coast. Over 60 species of birds breed at the Estuary, including banded dotterel, variable oystercatcher, pukeko and dabchick. Visiting birds include royal spoonbills, wrybills, black-fronted terns, and godwits. Carpets of remuremu grow in the firm mud along the estuary, and there are two regionally rare carex species.

History

Middens, observation posts, pa and burial grounds are reminders of early Maori who moved through the area. The estuary is the site of the 1839 Battle of Kuititanga where Te Ati Awa, who had established pa on both sides of the estuary, fought Ngati Raukawa, forcing them to flee to Otaki. The area is sacred to the people of Te Ati Awa ki Whakarongotai who are tangata whenua of this area. In the 1880s the Manawatu Railway opened up the coast to more European settlement. Coastal forest was removed for flax mills and farming, causing erosion. Since then housing, gravel extraction, flood protection, stormwater and industrial discharges have further reduced the power of the river. Since the 1960s, the land around the estuary has been transformed from a coastal wilderness to a densely populated urban area.

Conservation

Conservationists led by Sir Charles Fleming helped to establish the Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve in 1987 to protect the remaining area. In the 1990s, however, subdivisions crept closer to the estuary, increasing the threats to wildlife. The Department of Conservation has embarked on an ecological restoration project for the estuary, complemented by work being done by the Waikanae Estuary Care Group.

Further information is available at www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/wellington-kapiti/kapiti/waikanae-estuary-scientific-reserve

What are the photographic attractions of the estuary?

Club members told us:

• Early morning walks round the lagoons with the dog
• It’s a paradise for birdwatchers, with graceful birds such as the heron and swans
• It’s good to see the black-fronted terns that come up from the South Island
• The lagoons are a beautiful feature, and Kapiti Island always there as a backdrop
• The subtle colours of dawn over the hills, and brilliant sunsets beyond the island
• The patterns of the beach sand create a textured effect stretching into the distance, and the wet beach reflects the sky
• Kapiti Island is often the focal point as we look west in the evening, its shape a familiar silhouette as the sun sinks behind it
• The wetland area is a haven for so many different interesting birds – very special for me
• Shags on driftwood in the river, drying their wings, competing to be king
• Good to see people out and about, walking or cycling, using the tracks and boardwalk, or riding on the beach
• The drama of moving sands in high winds
• The fun people had last summer building and decorating a driftwood structure on the beach at the edge of the estuary, then rebuilding after (several) storms
• The work being done by the Estuary Care Group is amazing – growing seedlings, planting, weeding – it’s good that locals can work with DOC and KCDC on this
• I enjoy exploring the paths and seeing the regenerating native plants – the DOC signboards have interesting information as well as maps of the area
• The changing colours of vegetation and water, over the seasons, at different times of day, and in different weather
• The estuary got even more interesting as I learned more about the area and history.

Sales

If you wish to buy any of the pictures (except those shown NFS), please contact the club by email at kapiticoastphotosoc@gmail.com. Prices mounted $100.00, unmounted $50.00, plus $10 if delivered. Single images from the pairs are also available, unmounted.

A donation will be made to the Waikanae Estuary Care Group from sales proceeds.

Catalogue Thumbnails

Text Catalogue

Catalogue Number	Title	Photographer
1	Setting the Hinaki	Adrienne Dale
2	Whitebaiting	Roger Smith
3	Estuary Driftwood	Rhonda Billington
4	Summer at the Beach	Alison Viskovic
5	Kite Flying	Carol Molineux, Roger Smith
6	Doll on the Beach	Neil Gordon
7	One Man and his Dog	Martin Manning
8	Riding (NFS) and Cycling	Helen Moore, Neil Gordon
9	Estuary Walkers	Alison Viskovic
10	Estuary Signposts	Gary Moncrieff, Alison Viskovic
11	Conservation Work	Alison Viskovic
12	Waikanae Estuary Care Group Workers	Alison Viskovic
13	Problems: Rubbish and a Rabbit	Neil Gordon, Carol Molineux, Gavin Klee, Scott Stevenson
14	Problems: Weeds in the Estuary	Alison Viskovic
15	Estuary Vegetation I	Alison Viskovic
16	Estuary Vegetation II	Alison Viskovic
17	Views from Estuary to Mt Kapakapanui	Colin McKenzie
18	Autumn Evening	Alison Viskovic
19	Otaihanga Boardwalk	Colin McKenzie
20	Waikanae Estuary Wetland	Roger Smith
21	An Evening Palette	Hugh Scott
22	Orange Sundown	Peter Beddek
23	Evening Outflow	Hugh Scott
24	Estuarine Colours	Peter Beddek
25	Waikanae Estuary Dawn Reflective	Peter Beddek
26	Kapiti Dawn	Barry Culling
27	Driftwood Haven – A Teenage Installation	Roger Smith
28	Morning Light	Gavin Klee
29	Beach Flight	Gavin Klee
30	Karuhiruhi / Pied Shags	Carol Molineux
31	Kotare / Kingfisher	Gavin Klee
32	Move Over	Neil Gordon
33	Elegant Curves in Motion	Teresa Angell
34	Matuku / Bittern	Roger Smith
35	Karuhiruhi / Shag with Nesting Material	Carol Molineux
36	Poaka / Pied Stilt	Gavin Klee
37	Matuku-moana / White-faced Heron	Gavin Klee
38	Interactions	Teresa Angell, Gavin Klee
39	Torea-Pango / Oystercatcher	Carol Molineux
40	Kotuku / Heron	Gavin Klee
41	Pukeko	Carol Molineux
42	Karuhiruhi / Pied Shag with Fish	Gavin Klee
43	Kotuku-nutupapa / Spoonbill Alights	Gavin Klee
44	Kotuku-nutupapa / Spoonbill with Flounder	Carol Molineux
45	Kuaka / Godwit	Gavin Klee
46	Skylark (introduced, no Maori name)	Gavin Klee
47	Ngutu-parore / Wrybill	Gavin Klee
48	Matata /Fernbird I	Gavin Klee
49	Pheasant (introduced, no Maori name)	Roger Smith
50	Tuturiwhatu / Banded Dotterel	Gavin Klee
51	Oystercatchers Mating and with Young	Teresa Angell, Gavin Klee
52	Matata / Fernbird II	Carol Molineux
53	Babies: Tara / White-fronted Tern, Torea-Pango, Tuturiwhatu	Carol Molineux, Gavin Klee
54	Estuary Plants	Carol Molineux, Adrienne Dale, Hugh Scott
55	Estuary Creatures	Carol Molineux
56	Web and Spider	Scott Stevenson, Carol Molineux
57	Wind Dance	Hal Gimpelson