Freshwater fish

As a young child growing up on an Irish farm, one of Eimear Egan’s chores was to regularly clean out the well from where her family drew its drinking water. In the well lived a large eel that, no matter how many times it was shifted, just kept coming back.

The largest member of the Galaxiidae family.

Inanga are the predominant species in the modern whitebait fishery.

Grey mullet have a worldwide distribution and Aotearoa is at the southern limit of their range.

Kōaro are excellent climbers and like clear, swiftly flowing, forested streams.

Has a receding lower jaw and black spots behind the head.

Smelt have a distinctly forked tail and a strong cucumber smell.

NIWA is leading a new six-year research project that seeks to increase our understanding of piharau/kanakana/lamprey, using Mātauranga Māori, social science and biophysical science approaches.

Tuna are found in all sorts of habitats (places), including coastal estuaries, lakes, wetlands, rivers, mountain streams and even alpine tarns.

All species of freshwater tuna spawn at sea, although the spawning grounds of only four species are known with certainty worldwide.

More information about our online freshwater databases.