Our region is home to the second and third largest tidal lagoon estuaries in the South Island (Waimea and Whanganui Inlets). There are several large tidal river mouth estuaries with extensive and productive intertidal deltas (Motueka, Tākaka, Ruataniwha) and also many smaller tidal river estuaries.
The estuaries with the most valuable habitats (i.e. extensive tidal flats, saltmarsh and seagrass) are predominantly the larger tidal lagoon estuaries and the delta sections of many of the tidal river estuaries.
