The humble cockle is a big deal for Pāuatahanui Inlet.
In Pāuatahanui Inlet, cockles are present in huge numbers and it is estimated that together they filter at least a quarter of the volume of seawater with each incoming tide.
Every three years, the Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet team up with volunteers to run a cockle survey, now the longest-running community science project in Aotearoa.
The survey helps track how our cockle population is doing and tells us a lot about the health of the Inlet.
The first survey in 1992 found there had been a significant decrease in the cockle population since 1976. The second, in 1995, showed that the decline had continued. Since then, the population has increased survey-on-survey, with just one exception in 2016. The latest survey, in 2022, has shown that the population of cockles is still increasing.
Keen to get involved? The next survey is coming up soon, and the Guardians of Pāuatahanui Inlet would love your help!
On from 1pm on Sunday 2 November, meet at the Pāuatahanui Wildlife Reserve, 5 Paekākāriki Hill Road. Bring old clothes, gumboots, your hat and sunscreen, plus water and some snacks.
Get your friends and whānau on board and register ahead of time by emailing [email protected].
20 Oct 2025
