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by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

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Lake Ōmāpere is the largest lake in the Northland Region of New Zealand. It is located to the North of Kaikohe.

The lake sits within the Kaikohe-Bay of Islands volcanic field. The lake was formed when an ancient lava flow blocked a valley, forming the northern shoreline.[1][2] It is five kilometres in length and covers 12.3 km2, however it is only 2.6 metres deep (and as low as 1.5 m during summer). The lake has few inflow streams, mostly in the southern part of the lake. The Utakura River (south-western margin) is the main outflow which goes to the Hokianga Harbour. The lake catchment is predominantly pasture, with a few areas of native scrub and mature bush.[3]

Culture and history

Lake Ōmāpere is of great cultural and environmental value to Māori tangata whenua.[4]

In May 1845 the Battle of Puketutu, an engagement of the Flagstaff War, occurred at the pā of Hōne Heke at Puketutu, on the shores of Lake Ōmāpere.[5]

The lake level was lowered between 1903 and 1929,[6] but by 1947 silting had restored much of its level.[7]

Water quality and ecology

The water quality in the lake is generally poor and the lake is prone to blooms of toxic algae.[8] The lake is monitored by Northland Regional Council, and the environmental information can be viewed on the LAWA website.[9]

The Lake Ōmāpere Restoration and Management Project aims to develop and implement a voluntary lake management strategy that will work towards improving the health of the lake and help assist the Lake Omapere Trustees in their role as kaitiaki.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Northland Regional Council State of the Environment Report 2002 - The State of the Lakes of Northland" (PDF). Northland Regional Council. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  2. ^ "OMAPERE, LAKE". Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  3. ^ "Northland Lakes Ecological Status 2010". Northland Regional Council. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Lake Ōmāpere and the Utakura River". niwa.co.nz. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Puketutu and Te Ahuahu - Northern War". Ministry for Culture and Heritage - NZ History online. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Ngapuhi Fisheries Limited Final Report" (PDF). NIWA. 2009.
  7. ^ "Maori Rights In Lake Prevent Drainage NORTHERN ADVOCATE". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 6 Jan 1947. Retrieved 2022-04-19.
  8. ^ "Lake Omapere". Northland Regional Council. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Lake Omapere Water Quality". Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA). Retrieved 2020-04-27.
  10. ^ "Lake Omapere Restoration". Northland Regional Council. Archived from the original on 8 August 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.

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