Cleaning up the lagoon
Mention Washdyke and one of the things that springs to mind is the lagoon. The Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon is a shallow, coastal lagoon north of Timaru – a wildlife sanctuary and refuge for birds, plants, and fish. The rocky reef of the lagoon was made from lava flow which turned to basalt after Mt Horrible erupted about 2 million years ago.
The area was declared a natural reserve back in 1907 and more recently a community survey observed 30 different bird species using the lagoon including the bar-tailed godwit, dotterels and gulls. The lagoon also has important cultural significance and was once an abundant food gathering area for mana whenua and visiting iwi. All sorts of fish and shellfish were plentiful.
In recent decades, the lagoon has been shrinking and its health declining – which is bad news for the birdlife, wildlife and local communities.
Luckily, over the last couple of years there have been huge efforts to raise awareness about this incredible natural environment.
In April 2025, the four agencies involved formally adopted a strategy to help restore the lagoon. The project is a collaboration between Timaru District Council, Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, the Department of Conservation and Environment Canterbury.
The plan, called Our Waitarakao, includes plans to improve water quality, biodiversity and natural hazard resilience. A long-term approach aims to create pockets of new wildlife habitat through planting, predator control, waterway monitoring and other initiatives.
There are plenty of opportunities for businesses, landowners and community members to get involved and support the restoration of the lagoon. This can be anything from volunteering time for activities like planting days and beach clean ups right through to donating fencing materials or providing machinery for earthworks, labour, plants or pest traps. The project also plans to support community and business initiatives in the catchment area.
For more information visit www.ecan.govt.nz
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A little Washdyke history
There is a lot more to Washdyke than meets the eye. If you think of Washdyke as the outskirts of Timaru, you may be surprised to find the area has a long and distinct history of its own. According to nzhistory.govt.nz it takes its name from the way pioneer runholders, George and Robert Heaton Rhodes, dammed the stream to form a pool for washing their sheep prior to shearing.
Before the first freezing works was established at Timaru in 1885, a meat preserving works was located at Washdyke. Old newspaper articles refer to a fire at the meat preserving works in 1877 started by an engine spark, destroying the tallow factory that was part of the larger works.
The South Island Main Trunk Line reached Washdyke in October 1875 and from here the Fairlie Branch line was begun, reaching Pleasant Point in December 1875. South Canterbury’s first public airport was formed at Washdyke in 1920.
The Phar Lap race-course is located at Washdyke, home to the Timaru Racing Club it is named after the famous racehorse who was born at nearby Seadown in 1926.
