Rotokohu        the wetland                   

This area has been designated by DoC as an area of high natural value and by the Taranaki Regional Council as the most significant wetland in the Matemateaonga Ecological district. The Pokeka track goes through this wetland, safely following the natural levee on the edge of the Pokeka river. The levee works well but it also allows cattle, goats, sheep, and deer browse through this area daily. Silting up of the Pokeka banks by floods is what perpetuates this wetland where the lake and swamp tends to be somewhat higher than the Pokeka River.

DoC's Protected Natural Areas (PNA) report states:

• These are the most intact poor-draining silt floodplains in the ecological district
• Some of the vegetation associations may be unique
• Spotless crake and fernbird are present
• The area has scenic value, being a mosaic of pools, streams and reed beds and is traversed by a popular tramping track to the Waitotara Conservation Area.
• if stock access was controlled the wetland would be viable in the foreseeable future.

When it was suggested that this wetland was a good reason to keep the Pokeka track open, a local senior DoC Officer said it was "too precious to boardwalk"!!!!
 DoC's removal of Pokeka hut does not encourage visitors to this area. This track now has no maintenance by DoC but that simply means nothing has changed to what has happened in the last 15 years.

There is an alternative, very scenic access to this area.

     
  the wetlands

Deer in the public estate here that has been abandoned by DoC

the Rotokohu wetlands from downstream