Water Quality

Latest news

NIWA's underwater health check

13 June 2019

At the bottom of our lakes are NIWA divers with waterproof clipboards. Sarah Fraser jumps in to find out what they’re doing.

Environment report a clear picture of change: NIWA

Media Release

18 April 2019

The latest state of the environment report released today provides New Zealanders with clear evidence that our climate, freshwater and marine systems are changing, says NIWA.

Scientist collects rubbish to rid rivers of plastics

Feature story

16 January 2019

It may be rubbish to everyone else, but to Amanda Valois each little scrap of plastic on a river bank or in a waterway tells a valuable story.

Reducing sedimentation

Feature story

15 October 2018

New Zealand is a land of erosion. We’re losing about 192 million tonnes of soil a year, according to the latest report Our Land 2018, from the Ministry for the Environment and Statistics NZ.

Our work

Eutrophication Risk Assessment

Eutrophication occurs when nutrients in streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries cause excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae (primary producers).

Waikato River Independent Scoping Study (WRISS)

Many of New Zealand's aquatic ecosystems, and their services, are in a degraded and often worsening state. NIWA is involved in research and consultation' aimed at improving the health of our freshwater systems.

Ngā Kete o te Wānanga: Mātauranga, Science and Freshwater Management

New Zealand’s freshwater and estuarine resources provide significant cultural, economic, social, and environmental benefits. Competition for the use of these resources is intensifying, and many rivers, lakes and estuaries are now degraded. Māori are particularly sensitive to the use and development of freshwater, and hold distinct perspectives concerning their identity, knowledge, and custodial obligations to manage tribal waters.

National riparian restoration database project

NIWA is undertaking a five-year nationwide study to find out how different approaches to riparian planting influence water quality improvements and to provide better guidance to the people and groups undertaking stream restoration.

Latest videos

SHMAK habitat - rubbish

The SHMAK method for rubbish involves collecting and identifying all the rubbish (litter) in the stream and on the stream banks.

SHMAK habitat – visual habitat assessment

The SHMAK visual habitat assessment gives your stream a score that you can use to assess changes over time or compare streams.

SHMAK habitat – streambed composition

Two methods for describing streambed composition: the visual assessment method is quicker while the Wolman walk is more accurate.

SHMAK stream life – how to sort and identify your benthic macroinvertebrate sample

Use an ice-cream tray to isolate and separate your invertebrates. The Benthic Macroinvertebrate Field Guide helps you with identification.

Restoration of aquatic ecosystems

This project aims to increase our knowledge of aquatic ecosystems and their restoration, and apply this to degraded streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries.

Eutrophication Risk Assessment

Eutrophication occurs when nutrients in streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries cause excessive growth of aquatic plants and algae (primary producers).

Constructed wetland guidelines

Constructed wetlands are a water quality restoration tool that can reduce levels of sediment, nutrients and microbes such as E. coli.

Can mussels help to restore our lakes?

A project to explore whether kākahi (native freshwater mussels) can be used to help clean up New Zealand lakes has taken a step forward, with the launch of bioremediation rafts in Lake Ohinewai in the Waikato.

From land to sea – tracing our trash

NIWA and the Sustainable Coastlines charitable organisation are collaborating to develop ‘source-to-sea’ methods to trace the movement of litter from stormwater systems, through rivers, to coastlines.

Lagarosiphon be gone

An underwater invader recently brought key agencies and organisations including Land Information New Zealand, NIWA, Otago Regional Council, Boffa Miskell, Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, Fish and Game and Lake Guardians, together in Wanaka.

SHMAK habitat - rubbish

The SHMAK method for rubbish involves collecting and identifying all the rubbish (litter) in the stream and on the stream banks.

SHMAK habitat – visual habitat assessment

The SHMAK visual habitat assessment gives your stream a score that you can use to assess changes over time or compare streams.

SHMAK habitat – streambed composition

Two methods for describing streambed composition: the visual assessment method is quicker while the Wolman walk is more accurate.

SHMAK stream life – how to sort and identify your benthic macroinvertebrate sample

Use an ice-cream tray to isolate and separate your invertebrates. The Benthic Macroinvertebrate Field Guide helps you with identification.

SHMAK stream life – how to get your benthic macroinvertebrate sample ready for sorting

Before you look at what animals you have collected, follow these methods to clear away debris (stones, sand, leaves, twigs) from your sample in the net.

SHMAK stream life – collecting benthic macroinvertebrates in muddy-bottom streams

If your stream has a muddy-bottom or soft-bottom (made of silt or mud), you need to use a different method than if your stream has a stony-bottom.

SHMAK stream life – collecting benthic macroinvertebrates using the Kick-Net Method

Use a net & the kick-net method to collect a greater range of benthic macroinvertebrates and more accurately assess the diversity of the community.

SHMAK stream life – collecting benthic macroinvertebrates using the Stone Method

If you don’t have a net, you can collect stones from the streambed and collect the invertebrates that are clinging to the stones.

SHMAK stream life – macrophytes

Macrophytes are large aquatic plants. How to assess macrophyte cover with just a measuring tape and a willingness to get wet.

SHMAK stream life – periphyton

How you can assess the types and amount of periphyton: communities of algae and cyanobacteria attached to the sediment surface or plants.

SHMAK water quality – phosphate

Phosphate is measured in SHMAK using the Hanna Instruments Phosphate Checker. Where to order phosphate checkers and reagents.

SHMAK water quality – nitrate

The nitrate test included in SHMAK is a colorimetric test. Where to order additional Aquaspex Microtest® Nitrate-N kits.

SHMAK water quality – visual clarity

There are two methods to determine visual clarity in SHMAK; the clarity tube (or SHMAK tube) and the black disc method.

How to collect a water sample

Some SHMAK tests require you to collect a water sample. If you are sending your water sample to a lab for analysis, here's a list of some water quality labs.

What is included in SHMAK

SHMAK is available as a starter kit, a standard kit and SHMAK+. Here we explain what is included in the kit and what extras you need to purchase on your own.

Setting up your site

The various assessments in SHMAK are done over different lengths (reaches) of stream. Mark out the longest reach first, then shorter reaches.

Stream site assessment

SHMAK Stream Site Assessment - How to record some basic information about your stream site so you can interpret your results.

Health and safety in the field

Health and safety is the most important element of any activity. Watch this video before you go out into the field.

Overview of SHMAK

How healthy is your stream? SHMAK—the New Zealand Stream Health Monitoring and Assessment Kit—has been designed to help you find out.

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