Lake Whatihua (also known as Thompson’s Lake) is a long and narrow dune lake, surrounded by farmland at the base of the Āwhitu Peninsula. It is made up of a dune lake and wetland complex. It is located approximately five kilometres west of Waiuku, near Karioitahi beach and Lake Puketi. A narrow band of wetland vegetation dominated by jointed twig rush, kuta, raupō and pukio surrounds most of the lake margins. Of particularly high biodiversity value are small patches of lakeshore turf dotted around the lake. Weweia (dabchick) and other waterfowl species use the open water and wetland habitat at this site (www.tiakitamakimakaurau.nz).
Main image by David G. Schmale III, Virginia Tech, https://www.schmalelab.spes.vt.edu/
