Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora

Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora is a large shallow coastal lagoon on the Canterbury Plains of New Zealand’s South Island, south of Christchurch. It is an ecologically and culturally important wetland with a long history of use by local Māori and Pākehā communities.

The lake supports birdlife, fisheries and recreational uses such as angling and small-boat access, and is widely visited for birdwatching and coastal scenery. Its shallow depth and variable opening to the sea make water conditions changeable.

The site has been central to Ngāi Tahu customary use for centuries and later to European pastoral and fishing activities; management of the lagoon has involved efforts to balance ecological health, customary use and recreation. The dual name reflects the lake’s dual cultural significance.

Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora lies immediately south of the city of Christchurch, on the coastal strip between the Canterbury Plains and Pegasus Bay.

• Dual name and cultural significance: Known by both names - Lake Ellesmere and Te Waihora - reflecting its importance to Ngāi Tahu and European settlers; the dual name is commonly used in official contexts.
• Coastal lagoon and ecology: A shallow coastal lagoon separated from the sea by a narrow shingle bar that supports important birdlife and recreational fishing and is a key wetland on the Canterbury Plains.