Story: Estuaries

Significant estuaries

Significant estuaries

Estuaries may develop on the coast at sites where fresh water meets the sea. They take many forms, including harbours, bays, lagoons, fiords and coastal swamps. There are about 300 estuaries around New Zealand, and most shown here were used for shellfish harvesting by Māori before Europeans arrived. The named estuaries are those mentioned in the text. 

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Estuaries - Where fresh water meets the sea', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/map/4613/significant-estuaries (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006