Freshwater

We provide public information on river, lake, and groundwater conditions across New Zealand including freshwater quantity and quality.

Rachel Crawford and Paul Franklin inspecting a fish passage on the Waikato River.

Freshwater and Estuaries Update

A seasonal review and outlook for New Zealand's water resources, and an update on NIWA's freshwater research

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    NZ Freshwater Fish Database Help

    Learn how to use the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database (NZFFD)
    Fisheries
    Freshwater fish

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    Riparian management classification

    Management of stream riparian areas - including vegetation and stock access - influences the health of streams and downstream water bodies.
    Floods

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    Mitigation and best practice options

    Some simple steps to minimise the effects of mining activities on water quality and mahinga kai.
    Freshwater

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    Impacts of water dams

    What are the impacts of water dams on water quality and mahinga kai?

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    What is ocean acidification?

    Education Resource
    Ocean acidification is the name given to the lowering of pH of the oceans as a result of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.
    Greenhouse and trace gases
    Climate change
    Coasts

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    Emergent

    Find out more about emergent aquatic plants.
    Freshwater

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    Riparian vegetation and agriculture

    How may agricultural activities impact riparian vegetation around a waterway?
    Agriculture

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    Chemical contamination and mining

    What are the potential sources of chemical contamination from mining activities?

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    Water resources and mining

    How may the activities of the mining industry influence water resources?
    Freshwater

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    LakeSPI diver

    LakeSPI: Keeping tabs on lake health

    Software Tool/Resource
    The condition of many NZ lakes is under threat from land-use changes and the invasion of alien aquatic plants.
    Invasive species
    Ecological monitoring
    Lakes

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    Suspended-sediment yield estimator

    This national GIS ‘layer’ enables reconnaissance-scale estimation of suspended-sediment yields from New Zealand’s rivers and streams. It has been developed by NIWA in collaboration with Landcare Research.

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    Azolla fulliculoides

    Free floating species

    Find out more about free floating species.