Today is World Wetlands Day, and New Zealanders are being encouraged to preserve wetlands to celebrate.

Just 9 percent of New Zealand's original wetlands remain, and Wellington and the Bay of Plenty are down to their last 3 percent.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says we should be working harder to preserve the wetlands, as they act as nature's filter by trapping sediment and filtering nutrient run-off.

Jamie Mackay also says wetlands play a role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and filtering greenhouse gases.

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