Appendix 1 Volume Three 7. Islands of Croisilles Harbour and Northern Coastline Perceptual - Scenic bush pockets and key viewpoints to D’Urville Island and French Pass. Values Prominent/distinctive coastal ridgelines to Askews Hill. - - Impressive sequence of rugged, expose d bays and open waters along northern coastline. - High levels of naturalness due to limited modification. - Cape Soucis/Raetihi and Askews Hill, including the water, form the impressive entrance to Croisilles Harbour. Associative - Numerous Māori archaeological sites, notably around the islands. Values Overview Based on the above values, Islands of Croisilles Harbour and Northern Coastline have been identified as ONF's due to their exceptional biophysical and associative landscape values and very high sensory landscape values. Croisilles Harbour opens into Tasman Bay and is the westernmost part of the mainland Sounds. The area's key values relate to the number of geopreservation sites and ecologically significant areas, which are expressive of the coastal location and are also valued for the important habitat they provide. At the outer, rugged and exposed coastline, prominent and distinctive costal ridgelines extend from Okuri Point southwards to Askews Hill. Whilst some of this land is cleared or planted in exotic forestry, there are intact indigenous forests on the more elevated slopes of Askews Hills, Bobs Peak and Okuri Peak. A rare, nationally important altitudinal sequence from ridgetop to seafloor exists at Big Ba y. The geopreservation sites include the Matarau Point beach ridges and the Pakiaka Point boulder bank and lagoon, both at the base of Askews Hill at the eastern entrance of Croisilles Harbour. The Pakiaka Point boulder bank and lagoon shelters largely intact herbfield and salt marsh communities, extensive sand/mud flat habitats and sinuous tidal channels. The cuspate forelands at Matarau Point have been identified as having ecological values of national significance. Also identified as nationally significant are, the Croisilles Islands for a range of ecological values. Motuanauru Island and Otuhaereroa Island have distinct and rare biotic assemblages, which are highly productive. The waters surrounding the islands exhibit high levels of naturalness due to limited modification to the waterbody. The Islands create a highly natural, bush-clad visual entrance to Croisilles Harbour and are unmodified. Modifications include: tracks and power lines; cleared vegetation and pasture; forestry; and buildings. 8. Whangarae Inlet and Okiwi Bay Biophysical - Geopreservation site: Whangarae Bay estuary and sand pits. Values Nationally significant ecological values in Whangarae Bay associated with the - relatively unmodified estuarine habitat. - The Whangarae Estuary is the only spit-formed estuary in the Marlborough Sounds. - Whangarae Bay, Cape Soucis/Raetihi and the elevated parts of Croisilles Hill, Elliott Peak, Editor Hill and Matapehe hold outstanding levels of natural character due to their upland intact vegetation assemblages. The remaining area (except Symonds Hill, which holds high natural character) retains very high levels of natural character. App 1 - 8