| Lake Wairarapa | |
|---|---|
 Western shore looking south | |
 | |
.png)  Lake Wairarapa Lake Wairarapa is in the Wellington Region of the North Island. | |
| Location | South Wairarapa District, Wellington Region, North Island |
| Coordinates | 41°13′S 175°15′E / 41.217°S 175.250°E |
| Primary inflows | Ruamahanga |
| Primary outflows | Ruamahanga |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Surface area | 78 km2 (30 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Settlements | Featherston |
| Official name | Wairarapa Moana Wetland |
| Designated | 20 August 2020 |
| Reference no. | 2432[1] |
Lake Wairarapa is a lake at the southern end of the North Island of New Zealand, 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Wellington. The lake covers an area of 78 km2 (30 sq mi), and at its deepest is 2.5 m (8.2 ft).[2] It is the third largest in the North Island, fractionally smaller than Lake Rotorua. The nearest town to the lake is Featherston, which is located five kilometres from its northern shore.
The lake forms part of the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands, a regional park administered by Wellington Regional Council, in collaboration with Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, the Department of Conservation, South Wairarapa District Council, and Rangitāne o Wairarapa.[3][4] The wetland is the largest in the lower North Island, one of the largest in New Zealand, and was recognised as a wetland of international significance under the Ramsar Convention in August 2020.[5]
- ^ "Wairarapa Moana Wetland". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
- ^ "Lake Wairarapa & Wairarapa Moana". Destination Wairarapa. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ "Wairarapa Moana Wetlands Park". Department of Conservation. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
- ^ "Wairarapa Moana Wetlands". gw.govt.nz. Wellington Regional Council.
- ^ Fuller, Piers (21 August 2020). "'A lake worth saving': Wairarapa Moana named 'a wetland of international significance'". Stuff. Dominion Post.