Summary of report findings
The Kaipatiki Stream catchment is largely developed to capacity and has predominantly residential land use (75%) with some areas of bush (8%) and open space (3%). The stream has been highly modified and significant lengths of the channel are piped. However the Kaipatiki Ecological Restoration Group (KERP), established by local residents in 1997 have completed considerable work to restore the stream to a more natural state within a large portion of the lower main channel.
| Length |
6.5km |
| Size of Catchment |
200ha |
| Vegetation Cover |
22% (44ha), alongside most of the main channel and many of the tributaries. |
| Imperviousness |
37% |
| District Plan Land Use |
Business |
<1% |
| Recreation |
11% |
| Residential |
75% |
| Road |
14% |
| Recreational Use |
High, known high public use of stream locality. |
| Receiving Environment |
Kaipatiki Inlet, Hellyers (Oruamo) Creek, Upper Waitemata Harbour. |
| Substrate |
Primarily either concrete or silt/mud, with sections of bedrock within the main channel and Tributary 3. |
| Natural Wetlands |
Nil. |
| Artificial Wetlands |
Nil. |
| Periphyton |
Below nuisance levels. |
| Macrophytes |
No management issues. |
| Macroinvertebrates |
Indicative of moderate condition in the lower stream, good in the upper sections. |
| Fish |
6 species of native fish. |
| Potential Man-Made Barriers to Fish Passage to Upstream Habitat |
9 |
| Channel Modification |
Significant modification. 8 of 13 tributaries and the upper and lower main channel all between 8% and 84% modified. |
| Erosion around Structures |
2 structures with slight erosion, 6 with moderate erosion and 1 with severe erosion. |
| Bank Erosion |
Predominantly slight throughout, severe at the head of Tributary 2, and minor bank erosion in Tributaries 5B, 6, 9 the true right bank of Tributary 10 and at the head of the upper main channel. |
| Temperature |
Recorded temperatures unlikely to have adverse effects, however summer temperatures are likely to be higher. |
| Suspended Solids, Turbidity And Visual Clarity |
Low levels of suspended solids and turbidity relative to other North Shore streams. Of the clarity measurements taken these were typical for North Shore streams. |
| Oxygen and Oxygen Demand |
Variable dissolved oxygen concentrations. |
| Nutrients |
Moderate to high nitrate levels. |
| Contaminants |
Typical of urban streams. |
| Bacteria and Pathogens |
Levels of indicator bacteria indicate the stream is not suitable for contact recreation. |
| Sediment Quality |
No data. |
| Debris |
Overall insignificant. Inorganic debris included dumped circulars and household waste and discarded pipes. |
| Stream Grouping |
Group 2, High value low disturbance |
- |
| Group 3a, Urban semi-modified |
42% |
| Group 3b, Urban modified |
23% |
| Group 4, Concrete lined channel |
- |
| Group 5, Piped section |
35% |
