New Zealand's wetlands under increasing threat from urban encroachment provide habitats for a rich and diverse range of species, the Minister of Conservation, Kate Wilkinson said when she officially opened the newly constructed Ohaaki Wetland at Reporoa on Friday.

Kate praised the work of the many organisations involved in the project to return 35 hectares of land beside the Waikato River, into a marshland saying it will be an asset for the local community and tourists.

Dennis Barnes, chief executive of Contact Energy and the Minister of Conservation, Kate Wilkinson both planted trees at the official opening of newly constructed Ohaaki Wetland at Reporoa on Friday.

'Tourism is worth between $63million and $121 million to this region with 13.5 million visitor nights. This wetland will provide another attraction for visitors to enjoy.”

Kate says it was pleasing that farmers, inspired by the Ohaaki wetland, were keen to undertake similar projects on their own land.

Dennis Barnes, chief executive of Contact Energy says the wetland had been developed on subsiding land on the Ohaaki geothermal field, caused by over extraction of geothermal fluid in the first five to 10 years after the Ohaaki power station was commissioned in 1989, prior to Contact owning it.

Its development has been a two-year project which has transformed previously unused land into a natural resource that will help restore an ecosystem that provides irreplaceable benefits for the area, says Dennis.

Contact gifted the land for the wetland and funding for the $1 million development was provided through the Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust and the Wairakei Environmental Mitigation Charitable Trust (WEMCT). WEMCT was created by Contact as part of the company's efforts to mitigate the environmental impacts of its Wairakei operations.

Eastern Fish & Game Council chairman Barry Roderick, one of the speakers at the official opening said the project is an excellent example of a joint venture with a number of groups working together to benefit the environment.

Complete with a wildlife viewing hide and a 900-metre walking track, the Ohaaki wetland is open to the public throughout the year in between hunting seasons.

Funding for the $1million Ohaaki Wetland development came from the Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Trust and the Wairakei Environmental Mitigation Charitable Trust (WEMCT).