Aotea Lagoon

Story

Aotea Lagoon is an artificial lagoon surrounded by a 7ha public park in the Papakowhai suburb of Porirua, North Island, New Zealand. Aotea and two nearby lagoons were created when major arterial transport links were realigned from the natural coastline to land reclaimed from Porirua Harbour.HydrologyThe lagoon is 5ha of seawater, connected to Porirua Harbour by a culvert under the model windmill. Three stormwater drains empty into the lagoon, two in the east bank, the third in the south-east under the jetty.The lagoon's "water body receives limited flushing and aeration" and "little can be done to improve water quality without extensive engineering works." Poor water quality means swimming is prohibited.HistoryThe North Island Main Trunk railway and State Highway 1 used to run round three bays between Porirua and Paremata. In 1961 the railway was realigned to a causeway built between headlands at the mouth of Porirua Stream, Gear Homestead, present day Thurso Grove and Forth Place. Cut off from the sea, the bays became lagoons. The lagoons were partly filled in, with material from the Ministry of Works and Development's local earthworks, then the highway was realigned inland of the railway.