Wainono Lagoon is a shallow lake

Lake

A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...

 in the southern Canterbury

Canterbury, New Zealand

The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...

 region of New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

's South Island

South Island

The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...

. A number of rivers flow into the lagoon, including the Hook River

Hook River

Hook River is a natural watercourse in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. The river flows east from its source to the Wainono Lagoon, a fresh water lake beside the Pacific Ocean. On the way, it passes through the localities of Waiariari and Hook and is crossed by State...

 from the north and the Waihao River

Waihao River

The Waihao River is a natural watercourse in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.- Characteristics :Its headwaters are in the Hunter Hills, foothills of the Southern Alps, and its catchment area is 550 km². The catchment receives approximately 1,000 mm of rain annually...

 from the south. Nearby settlements include Hook

Hook, New Zealand

Hook is a lightly populated locality in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated on coastal plains by the Pacific Ocean and Wainono Lagoon. Hook River flows through Hook into the Wainono Lagoon...

 and Studholme

Studholme

Studholme is a locality in southern Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island. It is named after Michael Studholme, a pioneer European settler who arrived in the area in 1854.- Geography :...

, with the town of Waimate

Waimate

WaimateUrban AreaPopulation:2,835 Extent:Territorial AuthorityName:Waimate District CouncilPopulation:7,206 Land area:3,582.19 km² Mayor:John ColesWebsite:...

 approximately eight kilometres west.

Although it is within metres of the Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

, the Wainono Lagoon is fresh water

Fresh Water

Fresh Water is the debut album by Australian rock and blues singer Alison McCallum, released in 1972. Rare for an Australian artist at the time, it came in a gatefold sleeve...

 and separated from the sea by a gravel

Gravel

Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...

 berm

Berm

A berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. Berm originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French.- History :...

. Tests have revealed that the level of the lagoon does not fluctuate with the tide and its level of salinity is low. Fresh water, however, seeps from the lagoon into the sea.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) has established the Wainono Lagoon Conservation Area to protect the natural environment of the lagoon. The Waitangi Tribunal

Waitangi Tribunal

The Waitangi Tribunal is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975...

 in 1995 directed DOC to develop the lagoon as a traditional fishery resource with the Ngāi Tahu

Ngāi Tahu

Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the principal Māori iwi of the southern region of New Zealand, with the tribal authority, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, being based in Christchurch and Invercargill. The iwi combines three groups, Kāi Tahu itself, and Waitaha and Kāti Mamoe who lived in the South Island prior...

.