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Marine and Coastal

Nelson’s connection with the moana is central to our identity. Our coastline spans the shifting channels of the Waimea Estuary, the golden sands of Tāhunanui Beach, the protected waters of the Nelson Haven by the arc of the boulder bank, the rugged cliffs of Cape Soucis and the unique geology of the tombolo at Cable Bay.

These places are vital community, recreational, ecological, and cultural taonga.

Our coastal ecosystems include estuaries, dunes, rocky shores, beaches, offshore islands, and near‑shore waters and is home to a wide variety of species and habitats, including extensive seagrass beds, foraging grounds for wading birds, and nursery grounds for important fish species. Further out, the subtidal habitats include rocky reef, sponge gardens, macroalgae beds, and soft sediments.

Despite extensive modification from reclamation, development, and invasive species, these places still support nationally threatened wildlife such as:

  • Banded rail
  • Coastal peppercress
  • Back beach beetle
  • Migratory shorebirds
  • Native lizards
  • Seagrass beds, shellfish beds, and coastal dune species

Marine mammals like fur seals, orca, and Hector’s dolphins also share our marine space.

Healthy marine and coastal ecosystems support biodiversity, buffer against storms and sea‑level rise, and contribute to our community wellbeing.

Explore our Marine and Coastal Biodiversity

Threats to Marine and Coastal

Habitat Loss & Modification

Large areas of native dune, coastal flat, and estuarine vegetation have been lost to reclamation, urban development, and farming. Coastal habitats remain some of the most heavily modified in the region.

Weeds

Exotic species—particularly marram, gorse, and Spanish heath—out‑compete native dune and cliff vegetation. Marine pests also threaten coastal ecology - more on marine pests on our Marine Biosecurity page.

Animal Pests

Predators such as rats, stoats, possums, and mustelids threaten coastal birds, lizards, and invertebrates. Browsers (e.g., goats, deer) degrade vegetation and dune systems.

People & Recreation

Seeds are spread on shoes and bike tyres, dunes are trampled by beach use, and off‑lead dogs disturb nesting shorebirds.

Climate Change

Sea‑level rise, coastal inundation, and erosion increase pressures on beaches, dunes, estuaries, and coastal flats.

What We're Doing

NCC Estuary Monitoring team

Council is actively working to protect and to improve the health of dunes, estuaries, offshore islands, and other high‑value coastal sites.

  • Our mahi includes:
    • Coastal habitat restoration — planting native dune species, enhancing vegetation, and stabilising sensitive sites
    • Pest control — managing stoats, rats, possums, goats, and other species that threaten coastal birds, lizards, and invertebrates
    • Weed management — controlling marram, gorse, Spanish heath, and other invasive coastal weeds
    • Species protection — improving habitat for banded rail, back beach beetle, shorebirds, coastal plants, and marine‑edge lizard species
    • Monitoring and research — tracking the health of estuaries and coastal ecosystems to inform future management
    • Publish State of the Environment reporting to track environmental conditions and trends and inform future management and investment
    • Partnership work — supporting groups restoring sites such as the Waimea Inlet, Boulder Bank, and Haulashore Island
    • Apply annual monitoring and science charges to relevant resource consents to fund environmental monitoring and research across freshwater, coastal, and air environments.
    Together, these actions help restore the resilience and ecological integrity of our coast and moana.

Coastal and Marine Science Environment Programme

Regional and Unitary councils like Nelson City Council (NCC) have a responsibility to collect information relating to the condition of the marine environment.

NCC’s coastal and marine science programme includes:

  • coastal water quality monitoring
  • estuary health monitoring
  • seabed habitat mapping

Our research projects focus on environmental monitoring and restoration, and involve collaboration with other councils, local iwi, the Department of Conservation, the Cawthron Institute, Earth Sciences New Zealand and others.

An interactive web report describing long‑term environmental changes and brings together estuary condition, sedimentation, nutrients, contaminants, and ecological health indicators to track how the inlet is changing over time.

View the Nelson Haven | Paruparuroa estuary monitoring report

View the Wakapuaka | Delaware estuary monitoring report

Wakapuaka Inlet

What Can You Do

Take a look at our What Can You Do page for all opportunities to help our environment.

Resources & Useful Links

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