Today, 2 February, is World Wetlands Day. If you want to help form a better picture of a treasured environment and celebrate biodiversity, then sign up for the upcoming Bioblitz at Muriwai o Whata/Coopers Lagoon.

Along with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Te Taumutu Rūnanga, we are celebrating wetlands and biodiversity with a Bioblitz event on Saturday 18 February.

A Bioblitz is a communal citizen-science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible.

The event will provide a snapshot of the environment, helping us protect and enhance this important area. Join the search for flora and fauna alongside subject matter experts sharing their knowledge.

Why is it an important site?

Muriwai o Whata and the surrounding area is culturally significant for Te Taumutu Rūnanga, descendants of the great ancestors Ruahikihiki and his son Moki.

For Taumutu, Muriwai o Whata is the spiritual home of tuna/eels. Pūrākau/mythology refers to Muriwai o Whata being the first home of Tuna, who descended from the heavens as it was too dry and arid near the sun. Tuna resided in the hapua/lagoon for several years until one day he offended a local wahine.

Because of the offence, the locals were angry and set about to catch and kill Tuna, which they did. They cut Tuna up and cast his body parts into the ocean. These body parts then turned into different species of eels; such as the head of Tuna, which became the conger eel, and the tail became the lamprey.