Save Kai Iwi Lakes
Save Kai Iwi Lakes
The issue
Northland's Rare Dune Lakes are at risk of being destroyed by Gold Clam - now is the time to act to protect our precious jewel - the Kai Iwi Lakes and it's prized crystal-clear waters and unique, fragile ecosystems.
Because the Kaipara District Council has decided not to close the lakes to boats or jetskis (despite pleas from the Northland Regional Council and others), which are known for spreading golden clam, Kai Iwi Lakes which sees a high turnover of boaties over summer - is at risk of the invasive species getting a foothold.
If golden clam get's into the lakes, it will ultimately destroy them for future generations to enjoy, it will ruin the environment and the fragile eco-system and make it unsafe to swim.
The highly invasive Freshwater Gold Clam has been found outside its main stronghold and has arrived in Taranaki, putting our lakes directly in its path. Experts from the Northland Regional Council (NRC) and local Iwi (Te Roroa, Te Kuihi) agree: motorised boats are the single biggest risk for spreading this pest in residual water.
Relying only on voluntary education and "spot checks," is not enough. One infected boat is all it takes to ruin the lakes forever.
Why We Must Act NOW: The Gold Clam Means Permanent Destruction
The consequences of contamination are not reversible. If the gold clam establishes itself in Kai Iwi Lakes, it will cause destruction we cannot afford to fix. Ratepayers in our district do not have the financial resources to drain and restore these massive lakes, like they've had to do in New Plymouth.
The clam will cause:
Ecological Collapse: The clams form vast, dense beds that consume the food sources for native fish and birdlife, leading to the collapse of the lakes' unique biodiversity and a permanent change in the ecosystem.
Water Quality Ruin: As millions of clams die, they release massive pulses of nutrients into the pristine water, triggering toxic algal blooms (cyanobacteria). The clear, safe water we love will turn into a foul, green, and unsafe mess, destroying its use for swimming and recreation.
Infrastructure Failure: The clams will clog everything submerged—boat engines, water pumps, intake pipes, and any future dam infrastructure—resulting in prohibitive maintenance costs for decades.
The Kai Iwi Lakes are crucial habitats for rare, endangered native fish, notably the unique landlocked dune lake dwarf inanga (a small, endangered galaxiid) and dune lake galaxias (DLG), which are found nowhere else, alongside New Zealand's iconic longfin and shortfin eels (tuna). These rare fish populations, especially the DLG, are considered highly threatened, making the dune lakes a nationally significant site for freshwater biodiversity.
Dune Lakes are a rare geological situation where freshwater lakes form in the sand dunes along the coast - there are only a small number of these lakes in existence globally!
If we want to protect the lakes so future generations can enjoy them, just like we have. We must take action now to protect what we've got.
Some interesting facts about Dune Lakes - they are exceptionally rare!
When referring to the globally rare phenomenon of coastal dune lakes that periodically "outfall" into the ocean, there are often cited to be only a handful of locations in the world.
Florida, USA: Walton County (Scenic Highway 30A) is home to 15 named coastal dune lakes.
Other Key Locations: These rare ecosystems are also found in Oregon (USA), Australia
, New Zealand, and Madagascar.
What We Demand from the KDC
The KDC must put the long-term survival of the lakes above short-term recreational access and minimal economic benefit. Action must be taken over this extreme bio-security threat.
We demand the KDC take immediate action to protect our taonga:
EMERGENCY CLOSURE: Immediately implement a temporary closure of the Lake Taharoa boat ramp to all motorised vessels.
985
The issue
Northland's Rare Dune Lakes are at risk of being destroyed by Gold Clam - now is the time to act to protect our precious jewel - the Kai Iwi Lakes and it's prized crystal-clear waters and unique, fragile ecosystems.
Because the Kaipara District Council has decided not to close the lakes to boats or jetskis (despite pleas from the Northland Regional Council and others), which are known for spreading golden clam, Kai Iwi Lakes which sees a high turnover of boaties over summer - is at risk of the invasive species getting a foothold.
If golden clam get's into the lakes, it will ultimately destroy them for future generations to enjoy, it will ruin the environment and the fragile eco-system and make it unsafe to swim.
The highly invasive Freshwater Gold Clam has been found outside its main stronghold and has arrived in Taranaki, putting our lakes directly in its path. Experts from the Northland Regional Council (NRC) and local Iwi (Te Roroa, Te Kuihi) agree: motorised boats are the single biggest risk for spreading this pest in residual water.
Relying only on voluntary education and "spot checks," is not enough. One infected boat is all it takes to ruin the lakes forever.
Why We Must Act NOW: The Gold Clam Means Permanent Destruction
The consequences of contamination are not reversible. If the gold clam establishes itself in Kai Iwi Lakes, it will cause destruction we cannot afford to fix. Ratepayers in our district do not have the financial resources to drain and restore these massive lakes, like they've had to do in New Plymouth.
The clam will cause:
Ecological Collapse: The clams form vast, dense beds that consume the food sources for native fish and birdlife, leading to the collapse of the lakes' unique biodiversity and a permanent change in the ecosystem.
Water Quality Ruin: As millions of clams die, they release massive pulses of nutrients into the pristine water, triggering toxic algal blooms (cyanobacteria). The clear, safe water we love will turn into a foul, green, and unsafe mess, destroying its use for swimming and recreation.
Infrastructure Failure: The clams will clog everything submerged—boat engines, water pumps, intake pipes, and any future dam infrastructure—resulting in prohibitive maintenance costs for decades.
The Kai Iwi Lakes are crucial habitats for rare, endangered native fish, notably the unique landlocked dune lake dwarf inanga (a small, endangered galaxiid) and dune lake galaxias (DLG), which are found nowhere else, alongside New Zealand's iconic longfin and shortfin eels (tuna). These rare fish populations, especially the DLG, are considered highly threatened, making the dune lakes a nationally significant site for freshwater biodiversity.
Dune Lakes are a rare geological situation where freshwater lakes form in the sand dunes along the coast - there are only a small number of these lakes in existence globally!
If we want to protect the lakes so future generations can enjoy them, just like we have. We must take action now to protect what we've got.
Some interesting facts about Dune Lakes - they are exceptionally rare!
When referring to the globally rare phenomenon of coastal dune lakes that periodically "outfall" into the ocean, there are often cited to be only a handful of locations in the world.
Florida, USA: Walton County (Scenic Highway 30A) is home to 15 named coastal dune lakes.
Other Key Locations: These rare ecosystems are also found in Oregon (USA), Australia
, New Zealand, and Madagascar.
What We Demand from the KDC
The KDC must put the long-term survival of the lakes above short-term recreational access and minimal economic benefit. Action must be taken over this extreme bio-security threat.
We demand the KDC take immediate action to protect our taonga:
EMERGENCY CLOSURE: Immediately implement a temporary closure of the Lake Taharoa boat ramp to all motorised vessels.
985
Petition created on 13 December 2025