Lake Rotokare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Rotokare |
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 Lake Rotokare
Location in Taranaki Region
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| Location | Taranaki, North Island |
| Coordinates | 39°27′S 174°25′E / 39.45°S 174.41°E |
| Primary inflows | springs |
| Primary outflows | Te Ararata Stream |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Surface area | 17.8 ha (44 acres) |
| Average depth | 6 m (20 ft) |
Lake Rotokare is a landslide dammed lake in the New Zealand region of Taranaki. It is located 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Eltham.
The 230 ha (570 acres) Scenic Reserve, in the Tangahoe catchment, is the country's largest wetland and lake habitat inside a predator proof fence. It is administered by South Taranaki District Council and Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust. Species in the Reserve include raupo, flax, purei, makura, pukatea, kahikatea, coprosma, swamp maire, water millet, jointed baumea, Australasian bittern, spotless crake, fernbird, gold striped gecko, banded kokopu, koura, and short and long-finned eel.
Lake Rotokare should not be confused with Barrett Lagoon near New Plymouth, which has the alternative Māori language name of Rotokare.
History
The Reserve was created in the early 1870s. Road access was created in 1914. In 2008, the Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust completed construction of a predator proof fence around the reserve.
Reintroduction of native bird species
A number of bird species have been reintroduced into the reserve:
- Hihi (Stitchbird) were introduced in 2017 with additional birds added to the population in 2018.
- Pateke (Brown Teal) were introduced into the reserve in May 2019.
