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8.0 Summary of Selected New Zealand Marine Classification Systems and Spatial Frameworks

Part One National Systems

Name of system.	Geomorphic classification of estuaries (Hume & Herdendorf)	Coastal and marine ecological areas of NZ (King, Bailey, Clark)	UNEP GRID NZ classification of wetlands.	DOC Ecosystem based coastal classification	NIWA estuary classification.
Date developed.	1988.	1985.	1999 (estuaries piloted; open coast marine not yet piloted).	In development.	In development
Geographic coverage.	NZ.	NZ :coast and shelf of 3 main islands.	NZ.	NZ territorial sea	NZ estuaries
Scale of operation.	Variable	4-5cm:60NM.	Higher levels 1:250,000; detailed levels 1:50,000-1:10,000.	Biogeographic regions (100's-1000's km); Coastal marine units (10's-100's km)	Unknown.
Classification based on:
1.biogeographical regions.	No	Yes.	No	Yes.	Unlikely
2.identifying habitats and communities.	No	No	Levels III &IV use structural class and dominant cover.	?	Finer levels of the classification will probably use habitats at the trophic level
3.physical processes and /or characteristics.	Yes.	No	Levels I &II use key physical parameters that affect biol communities.	?	Primary focus.
Coast/marine area covered:
1.coastal terrestrial.	No	Yes (inland limit may reach terrestrial extent of marine influence including habitats such as dunes & wetlands.)	Includes supratidal (eg splash zone)	No	?
2.estuarine.	Yes	Yes	Yes.	Yes	Yes-focus
3.open coast intertidal.	No	Yes (as part of a biogeographic unit)	Yes.	Yes?	No
4.open coast subtidal inshore.	No	Yes to shelf break as slope changes at 130-200m depth.	Yes (partly trialed, but probably limited to shallow waters.)	Yes to 100m depth	No
5.open coast subtidal offshore.	No	No	No	No	No
Structure of classification:
1.level 1.	Estuary classes(5)- based on primary mode of origin of depositional basin.	Neritic territories (3) mapped.	I-hydrosystem(eg estuarine,). IA-subsystem(eg intertidal, subtidal)	Biogeographic regions (8)	Physical parameters and processes will be used to define types of estuaries. This may include catchment characteristics.
2. level 2.	Estuary types (16) - based on estuary geomorphic and oceanographic characteristics	Coastal ecological regions (27) and shelf ecological regions(10) mapped.	II-wetland class (eg saltmarsh, mudflat). IIA- wetland form (eg lagoon, estuary)	Coastal marine units - based on geomorphological, local watermass and biotic information.	Within estuaries habitats and communities will probably be defined at the trophic level.
3. level 3.	No	Coastal and shelf ecological districts mapped.	III- structural class (eg. rushland, mussel reef, cockle bed.)	No	Sensitivity of estuary types and possibly the biota to sedimentation will be identified.
4. other levels.	No	No	IV-dominant cover (eg. Leptocarpus-Juncus; Chione	No	?
Applications:
1.original purpose.	Tool designed to facilitate transfer of case study results between estuaries of the same type where environmental processes are similar.	Develop an ecological framework for planning and managing a system of representative marine and coastal areas.	Framework for analysing the spatial extent (and condition) of wetland (aquatic ecosystem) types.	To facilitate the development of a network of marine reserves for New Zealand.	To allow managers and researchers to appropriately apply estuarine research results to areas beyond that of the original investigations.
2.known uses.			Classification developed with pilots of estuarine component in Auckland, Waikato, Canterbury. Current applications to Marlborough estuaries; and by Cawthron to 8 NZ estuaries for a SMF monitoring project.	Still being developed.	Still being developed.

See section 7 for full references and more complete descriptions.

Part Two: Examples of Local Habitat Classifications used by Auckland Regional Council

Name of system	1. Morrisey,1994 marine habitats of conservation significance	2. Tricklebank et al 1997 habitats for marine ecological monitoring.	3. Auckland University West Coast Ecology	4. Hewitt: Classification for State of environment monitoring
Date developed	1994	1997	2000	2000
Geographic coverage	Auckland Region	Auckland Region	Auckland Region West Coast open coast	Auckland Region
Scale of operation	10's km	10's km	10-100m	10's km
Classification basis:
1.biogeographic units		Yes
2.identifying habitats and communities	Yes	Yes		Yes
3.physical processes	Yes		Yes
Coastal/marine area covered:
1.coastal terrestrial
2.estuarine	Yes	Yes		Yes
3.open coast intertidal	Yes	Yes		Yes
4.open coast subtidal inshore	Yes	Yes	Yes (west coast)	Yes
5. open coast subtidal offshore
Structure of classification
1.level 1	Broad level geomorphic unit (e.g. large harbours/estuaries; exposed sandy beaches)	Broad level biogeographic division (East and West Coast)	Broad substrate divisions of geology and geomorphology (e.g. volcanic sandstone platform, basalt cliff)	Exposure and tidal zone (e.g sheltered subtidal coast)
2.level 2	Habitat units using a variety of drivers (e.g. sheltered rocky reefs; exposed sandy gravels)	Broad substrate division (rocky and soft)	Finer scale geomorphology (e.g. caves, rock outcrops)	Substrate (e.g. sand -mud; rocky) and sometimes geomorphic element (e.g. beach channel)
3.level 3		Exposure and turbidity combinations (e.g. high exposure and low turbidity)	Very fine scale geomorphology (crevices, rock pools)
4. other levels		Depth categories	Exposure categories
Original purpose	Selecting areas of ecological and geomorphic value to be identified in the regional coastal plan	To provide a basis for design of a marine ecological monitoring network for Auckland	To monitor West Coast ecology especially the large kelp Durvillaea antartica.	Part of a proposed marine state of environment monitoring programme

1.Morrisey, D.J. 1994. Marine habitat mapping of the Auckland Region. NIWA Consultancy Report for ARC.
2.Tricklebank, K.; Babcock, R. ; Creese,B. 1997. Marine habitats of the Auckland Region. University of Auckland Report for ARC.
3.Report in preparation for Auckland Regional Council (information from Dominic McCarthy, ARC)
4.Hewitt, J.E. 2000. Design of a state of environment monitoring programme for the Auckland Region. NIWA Client Report for ARC.