Extract from Selwyn Waihora Zone Implementation Plan (page 8): The Rakaia River ‘has significant cultural value for Ngāi Tahu as part of a trail to the West Coast and also for mahinga kai. The upper Rakaia area has an extensive intact and ecologically well-connected network of nationally significant wetlands, high country lakes, intermontane streams and braided riverbeds. It contains some of the largest intact wetlands in the region, including habitat for native fish and populations of native water birds. The river also supports rare riverbed species such as wrybill (around 73% of the known population of wrybill), black-fronted tern and banded dotterel.’

Important Bird Areas (IBAs): This is a 7 page extract from Forest & Bird’s 177-page Important Areas for New Zealand Seabirds. This extract includes maps,  types of birds, habitats, and threats for birds in the Rakaia River and larger Rakaia catchment.

Hakatere Conservation Park , which straddles sections of the upper Rakaia and Rangitata Rivers, is part of one of the best wetlands in the country. A national wetland restoration project was started in 1997 and involves three premier sites: Whangamarino in Waikato, Awarua/Waituna in Southland and Ō Tū Wharekai here in Canterbury. The rivers, lakes, tarns and swamps of Ō Tū Wharekai have their own special range of species; some of which are rare, for example our kettle holes are home to 23 threatened plants. Although each wetland habitat is unique, all waterways are interconnected, breathing life into the Hakatere basin.