To many, they're just duck hunting ponds, but for several environmental groups, the importance of wetlands in New Zealand is of growing concern.
The unique ecosystem is home to several threatened species, including dozens of native shortfin and longfin eels.
Despite its strong numbers, the Department of Conservation (DOC) says the longfin eel is a threatened species, leading Fish and Game to call on farmers to build new wetlands.
Fish and Game field officer Cohen Stewart said, "We help them with the surveying and the design of the wetland. We also offer a pond subsidy as well to help them cover the cost of the construction of wetland, and we also offer native plants as well".
Farmers will also be allowed to use the wetlands for one of their hobbies - duck hunting.
"These farmers are often enthusiastic duck hunters, so that can be their primary focus for putting these ponds in," Mr Stewart said.
Currently, 90 per cent of the ecosystem has been lost since European colonisation.
In Southland alone, more than 1000 hectares of wetlands have been lost in a decade.
For farmer Tom Day, the decision to create a wetland is a no-brainer.
"It's good for the farm as well. Biodiversity on the farm is great and it just slows the run off of water, these wetlands as well," Mr Day said.
Fish and Game will survey 40 ponds over the next two years before reporting its findings.
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