NZ wetlands vulnerable to climate change

A new Department of Conservation report is highlighting how vulnerable Aotearoa's wetlands are to climate change. The report is one of the first of its kind for DOC and uses existing information from published reports and scientific papers to assess the impacts of climate change. Southland's Waituna Lagoon is the case study - it's a rare type of mainly freshwater estuary with slightly salty pockets when its opened to the sea, and is part of the internationally recognised Awarua Wetland. Department of Conservation climate science advisory and report co-author Petra Pearce says more flooding, algae, habitat loss and poorer water quality are among the risks as the climate changes. She told reporter Tess Brunton what the consequences would be if climate changes the lagoon.