Believed to be one of the oldest wetlands in New Zealand, formed around 9600BC, the Peka Peka Wetlands are part of an ancient peat swamp and providing vital habitat for an array of native bird and plant life. Use the network of boardwalks and pathways to explore the wetlands, looking out for unusual wildlife along the way. Information panels also give a lot of insight into the local Maori history of the area.
Pekapeka swamp is all that is left of what was once a much larger wetland complex. Tree roots have been found beneath the peat that suggests the wetland was once forested – more than 10,000 years ago.
Pekapeka is one of the few remaining large wetlands of its type (palustrine, a swamp) in Hawke’s Bay. It has a high biodiversity value and was ranked by the Department of Conservation as the second most valuable wetland, ecologically, in Hawke’s Bay. The wetland has substantial cultural significance and since 1997, Pekapeka Wetland has had waahi tapu status under the Historic Places Act 1993.
Pekapeka is thought to be named after the bats that inhabited nearby caves as pekapeka is Māori for 'bat'.
Protected bird species that you might look for are - NZ Dabchick, Little Black Shag, Little Shag, White Faced Heron, Australasian Bittern (very rare), Mute Swan, Grey Teal, Marsh Crake, Spotless Crake, Pied Stilt, Shining Cuckoo, Morepork, Kingfisher, Welcome Swallow, North Island fantail, Silvereye, Black Shag and Australian Harrier.
There are over 82 species of plants within the wetland (both native and introduced, including weed species).
Wetlands were for a long time not valued for the important systems that they are. For many years Pekapeka was used as an illegal dump and, among other rubbish, the remains of the demolished Pacific and Mayfair Hotels are here - we've left some of the rubble and reinforcing rods exposed as a stark reminder of how badly we have treated these exciting ecosystems in the past.
Location: 16km (10 miles) south of Hastings. State Highway 2.
Mana Ake