Tidal Currents

The tidal flow pattern for Wellington Harbour has been outlined by Brodie (1958, p. 701, fig. 2). He shows that the tide floods in through the restricted harbour entrance channel at a speed of approximately ½ knot, but slows to ¼ knot in the inner harbour. The main current passes close to Seatoun, Mahanga Bay, and Point Halswell, and continues in a clockwise direction parallel to the inner harbour coastline to follow a southerly course along the eastern harbour bays to Eastbourne. This pattern of flow is reversed during the ebb tide. Both plankton stations are therefore influenced by oceanic waters during the flood tide only, and during the ebb tide a flow from the northern inner harbour mixed with water from Evans Bay covers the area.