The smallest include farm dams, ponds and boggy areas planted and fenced off by landowners and volunteer groups.
A council spokesperson said one of the important functions of wetlands is reducing disaster risk, as reflected in this year's international theme.
When heavy rain runs through hills, swamps in valleys can hold large amounts of water, allowing sediment to sink and nutrients to be taken up by plants.
Cleaner water is then released steadily, therefore reducing potential damaging impacts.
Wetlands are important as feeding and breeding places, for birds, insects and fish.
"It didn't take long for birds to move into the new wetland area on the coast at Waitangi Regional Park, just showing that nature bounces back quickly when we enhance or create the right habitats," says council's open spaces manager, Steve Cave.
Diggers have created new ponding areas, using the fill to raise roads and public areas above floodwater level.
As soon as the wetlands had water in them, royal spoonbills and heron arrived and some pied stilts, ducks and dotterels have raised chicks there.
As well as enhancing and reconstructing wetlands, council has started a state of the environment programme monitoring freshwater wetlands in the Tukituki catchment.
"We are collecting ecological information so that Hawke's Bay people can better understand what plants and animals are in these wetlands, the nutrient status and how the water flows in and out of these areas," says terrestrial ecologist Keiko Hashiba.
Ecological monitoring and enhancement programmes at some of the larger wetlands is also managed by council on behalf of everyone in the region - Pekapeka Wetland, Lake Whatuma, Whakaki Lagoon, Tukituki Estuary, Waitangi Estuary, Lake Runanga, Lake Oingo, and Whakamahi and Whakamahia lagoons.
Many landowners and groups in Hawke's Bay have taken it upon themselves to protect, restore and enhance wetlands on private and public land. These people recognise the many benefits wetlands provide, including habitat for native wildlife, recreation and reducing farm nutrient losses.
HBRC provides advice and financial support for wetland projects through the Regional Landcare Scheme. In the past 10 years, they have assisted more than 140 individual landowners or groups culminating in about 190 wetland restoration or enhancement projects.
• For more information on wetlands in Hawke's Bay go to www.hbrc.govt.nz #wetlands.
• For more about wetlands internationally go to www.worldwetlandsday.org