Te Awa o te Atua /Matatā lagoon is an outstanding example of a complex dune land-wetland-open-water system on a freshwater-saltwater interface. It has high botanical values and provides high value breeding and feeding habitat for a large number of water birds.

The western lagoon was remediated in about 2010, however the width of aquatic emergent wetland vegetation on the margin of the western lagoon remains considerably less than what was intended to regenerate into shallow wetland habitat following the post-flood remediation.

River Lake Ltd and Place Group undertook water quality, fish and vegetation surveys to assess the ecological health of Te Awa O Te Atua / Matatā Lagoon and identify ways to improve its values.

The report for Whakatane District Council can be found here: