Waikākāriki Horseshoe Lake is one of my favourite spots to chill out. I (Huanui, your ‘fan-trail’ guide) get to catch up with lots of my bird friends: pūtangitangi paradise ducks, cheeky rakiraki mallard ducks, pūkeko and loads of other birds who enjoy the wetlands. 

Which of my feathered friends do you see today? The entrances off Lake Terrace Road are a great place to stop and watch for birdlife.

Horseshoe Lake, in a locality area originally called Te Oranga, is significant to Ngāi Tahu. It was a mahinga kai (food-gathering place) in pre-European times. 

‘Oranga’ not only means ‘survival’ and ’ food’ (the area is like a takeaway restaurant for us birds!), but also livelihood, welfare and good health. Wetlands are an integral part of Nature’s way of keeping our city’s iconic awa (river) environments thriving and healthy.

Environmentally, then, these wetlands help maintain the good health of Avon Ōtakiro River. Horseshoe Lake drains into the river and, as such, plays a very important part of our city’s freshwater systems. We need healthy wetlands.  

How might you help Nature in this endeavour?