Creating Ponds

If you have a naturally wet area on your property why not consider fencing it off and creating a pond. You will need to seek advice from Environment Southland and territorial councils prior to construction to see if any consents are required. Find out about the benefits of creating a pond and see our list of recommended species.

Before and after photos of Rance’s pond.

Benefits of pond creation

There are many benefits to creating a pond and planting with native species, including:

Providing an attractive environment for enjoyment and recreation
Providing habitat for wildlife and attracting native birds.

Ponds planted with native plants are largely maintenance free once they have established, but you’ll need to plant the right species, which can tolerate wet conditions.

Benefits for wildlife

White-faced heron at Rance’s pond.Ponds planted with native species help to increase biodiversity in your area. They provide habitat and food for a large range of insects and birds. Birds such as ducks, herons, stilts, kingfishers and even fernbirds can be attracted to a created pond. Perching spots over ponds help to attract birds to the pond. Together with other areas of native planting, ponds help to recreate natural habitats.

Benefits for the farm or property

Planted pond areas can benefit your farm by:

Protecting livestock from getting bogged
Helping control water run-off in times of heavy rain
Improving landscape values
Providing a diverse habitat for native species
Providing a recreational area.

Ecosourcing

By using locally sourced (ecosourced) native plants, you’ll use plants that are better adapted to local conditions and therefore more likely to thrive.

Ecosourcing means sourcing plants from your local area. Plants sourced from your local area are better adapted to your local conditions. They are more likely to survive and help to preserve the distinctiveness of our region.

When using ecosourced plants try to select plants from seeds collected as close as possible to where you want to plant. Contact us at the nursery for more advice about ecosourcing for your place.

Key design features

Choose plants that will tolerate wet conditions.

The diagram below illustrates the position of the native plants recommended for planting. It is important that species such as Carex and flax are planted closest to the water level as they can tolerate being totally inundated by water in times of very wet weather. The profile is equally useful for streamside plantings.

Vegetation profile for streams, rivers and ponds.

Find out more about the plants illustrated above in the table below:

Native pond plants

Common name	Botanical name	Plant type	Wet	Dry	Sun	Shade	Frost
1. Carex	Carex secta
2. Carex	Carex virgata
6. Cabbage Tree	Cordyline australis
9. Flax	Phormium tenax
10. Lowland ribbonwood	Plagianthus regius
7. Manuka	Leptospernum scoparium
5. Mingimingi	Coprosma propinqua
3. Red tussock	Chionochloa rubra
11. South Island kowhai	Sophora microphylla
4. Toe toe	Cortadieria richardii
8. Weeping mapou	Myrsine divaricata