Freshwater

Deep beneath Waitomo’s rolling hills lies a maze of caves and underground rivers. Here, NIWA researchers braved the dark waters to measure the current and hunt for fishy invaders under the twinkle of the cave’s magical glowworms.

River flows in New Zealand have changed dramatically over the past 50 to 90 years as the climate has varied, a new study has found.

Nearly half of New Zealand’s river network is partially or fully inaccessible to migratory fish, a new study shows.

Freshwater Cultural Keystone (Taonga) Species such as tuna, kōura and kāeo/kākahi are central to the identity and wellbeing of many Māori communities throughout Āotearoa. For generations, these species have sustained communities and been vital in the transfer of customary practices and knowledge from one generation to the next.

Intensifying competition for water is increasing pressure on finite water resources (surface and groundwater), which manifests itself as depleted stream flows. As the concerns over water resources and the environment increase, the importance of combined water management, which acknowledges the integrated nature of groundwater and surface water, and manages them as a single resource, is critical to sustain both human society and aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

Downloadable and printable guides on identification of common freshwater invertebrates found in New Zealand waterways and lakes.

NIWA’s Stream Health Monitoring Assessment Kit (SHMAK) gives land owners, iwi, school and community groups simple, scientifically-sound tools and resources to monitor the ecological health of New Zealand’s streams.

January was Auckland's wettest month since records began, according to meteorologists. The Central Auckland Rainfall series recorded a total of 539 mm of rain at Albert Park, smashing the previous monthly record of 420 mm from February 1869.

Nearly half of New Zealand’s river network is partially or fully inaccessible to migratory fish, a new study shows.

A study investigating the level of change needed to improve the state of Hawke’s Bay’s marine environment highlights the magnitude and frequency of interventions required for the seafloor ecosystem to recover.

NIWA is active in a broad range of eDNA topics and can provide expert advice on applications and expected outcomes.

Can native freshwater algae help restore the mauri of local waterways? Lawrence Gullery investigates.