Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour

Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour is an important place for many different people. The mana whenua of Ngāti Wheke, residents and visitors all share a love for the harbour and surrounding bays.

Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour’s vision is to ensure the area’s ecological and cultural health as mahinga kai is restored for us and our children after us.

Our focus

The Whaka-Ora Healthy Harbour plan targets six ecological areas for change. Each ecological band is of equal importance and will help weave our korowai for the Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour catchment.

Rocky outcrops and indigenous forests

Streams

Hills and lowlands

Wetlands and saltmarsh

Taihua/Foreshore

Harbour

The future of Whakaraupō/Lyttelton Harbour

Be a change-maker

News and events

20 October 2026

Te Wharau Stream restoration sees Pīwakawaka fantails return

A project to protect and enhance Te Wharau Stream has helped improve water quality and provide a healthy habitat for native birds and fish.

7 October 2026

Three students in orange safety vests look out over Lyttelton and Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour from Port Saddle.

7 October 2026

Students help restore native forest at Port Saddle, Lyttelton

Environment Canterbury led students on a hands-on day at Port Saddle, restoring habitat and learning about Whakaraupō Lyttelton Harbour's ecology.

18 September 2026

Team hikes to amazing heights to tame Te Ahu Pātiki invasive gorse

A team from Ngāti Wheke’s Tiaki Taiao field-work crew went to great lengths, or should we say heights, to clear gorse from the summit of Te Ahu Pātiki / Mt Bradley on Banks Peninsula in March.