Te Whanga Lagoon dominates the geography of Chatham Island, in the South Pacific Ocean off New Zealand's east coast. It covers 160 square kilometres (62 sq mi). [1] It is the outflow of several small rivers in the island's hilly south, and drains to the Pacific via gaps in Hanson Bay on the east coast of the island.

Te Whanga Lagoon is the largest waterbody on Chatham Island and is prized for its recreation and food gathering values, as well as having high cultural values. It is predominantly a brackish or saline environment, due to periodic openings to the sea.

The largest natural feature on the islands, 16,000-hectare Te Whanga Lagoon is a coastal lagoon that has been created by a sandspit linking the higher northern and southern parts of Chatham Island. In time the lagoon will probably silt up.

Te Whanga is the body of water that occupies approximately 20% of the land mass of Chatham Island. It is 24 kilometres long and has an area of about 18,600 hectares. It has four compartments: a north basin that is separated from the remainder of Te Whanga by a shallow

Te Whanga Lagoon is the largest waterbody on Chatham Island and is prized for its recreation and food gathering values, as well as having high cultural values. It is predominantly a brackish or saline environment, due to periodic openings to the sea. It has moderate to high nutrient levels and sometimes suffers from algal blooms.

Te Whanga • Large, highly visible & accessible • Unique mix of fresh water & sea water • Unique mix of fresh water & marine species • High biodiversity, recreational & cultural values • Strong community interest

Located in the Chatham Islands region Manauea/Ocean Mail Scenic Reserve covers 831 ha of peat dome and wetland at Te Whanga Lagoon. It also extends over the road to Kaiangaroa to include 4 km of coastal dunes.

Te Whanga Lagoon dominates the geography of Chatham Island, in the South Pacific Ocean off New Zealand's east coast. It covers 160 square kilometres. It is the outflow of several small rivers in the island's hilly south, and drains to the Pacific via gaps in Hanson Bay on the east coast of the island. Photo: NASA, Public domain.

Te Whanga Lagoon. The 16,000-hectare Te Whanga Lagoon is more than twice the size of Wellington Harbour.and accounts for 20% of the area of Chatham Island. Formerly a deep bay, it has been enclosed by sand dunes to its east, but occasionally opens to the sea. The island’s airfield is located on the north-west side of the lagoon, at Kārewa Point.

Te Whanga Lagoon. The 16,000-hectare Te Whanga Lagoon is more than twice the size of Wellington Harbour.and accounts for 20% of the area of Chatham Island. Formerly a deep bay, it has been enclosed by sand dunes to its east, but occasionally opens to the sea. The island’s airfield is located on the north-west side of the lagoon, at Kārewa Point.