Freshwater Quality

Latest news

Putting algae to work

Feature story

15 December 2022

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

Taonga Species Series: Tuangi

Feature story

31 October 2022

What does science tell us about New Zealand cockles?

Satellites reveal NZ’s coastal health

Media Release

21 September 2022

For the first time, satellites have been used to track coastal water health around Aotearoa New Zealand.

Demand grows for NIWA’s Riparian Management Training

Media Release

9 June 2022

NIWA has updated and restarted a course using a riparian planning tool developed by one of its former chief scientists more than 20 years ago.

Latest videos

The SHMAK method for rubbish involves collecting and identifying all the rubbish (litter) in the stream and on the stream banks. It was designed to complement rubbish assessments on our beaches so the data is comparable.

SHMAK habitat – visual habitat assessment

The SHMAK visual habitat assessment needs no equipment, only your eyes. It gives your stream a score that you can use to assess changes over time or compare streams.

SHMAK habitat – streambed composition

There are 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

An ice-cream tray provides an excellent container to isolate and separate your benthic macroinvertebrates. The SHMAK Benthic Macroinvertebrate Field Guide can help you with your identifications. Posting a photo to the Freshwater Invertebrates NZ project in iNaturalist can help you identify any invertebrates you don’t recognise - https://inaturalist.nz/projects/fresh... When you enter your data into the NZ Water Citizens website - https://nzwatercitizens.co.nz/ - you can use the online calculator to calculate a health score.

Smelt

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

Kanae

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

Kōaro

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

Shortjaw kōkopu

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

Banded kōkopu

Banded kōkopu juveniles are very good climbers and will try to escape from buckets by clinging to and wriggling up the sides.

Controlling pest fish

Pest species of fish and plants will need to be controlled or eradicated if they are threatening the success of your restoration project.

Proud of your plants? 1 June 2017

1 June 2017

NIWA is doing a nationwide study to discover what makes the best riparian projects. Help us give you the knowledge to make the best riparian management decisions possible by taking our 5 minute survey.

NIWA Technical Background report for MfE “Clean Water” Swimmability Proposals for Rivers

11 May 2017

NIWA provides technical background information on "Clean Water" swimmability proposals.

Derivation of new ANZECC water quality guidelines for copper and zinc

The ANZECC water quality guidelines are used extensively throughout New Zealand in managing water quality and potential effects of discharges.

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.

Applying the right tools to restore kōura to lakes and streams

The tools available for restoring kōura to lakes and streams depend on what is causing kōura to decline.

Are kōura present in your waterway?

First, determine if kōura should be present in your stream.

Identifying the problem for kōura

Identifying the factors causing kōura numbers to decline will allow you to determine which restoration tools you need to employ.

Guide to restoring kōura (freshwater crayfish) in lakes, rivers and streams

Habitat degradation and the introduction of exotic plant and fish species have adversely affected kōura populations throughout New Zealand. However, there are a number of measures that we can use to restore kōura populations in lakes, rivers and streams.

Citizen science monitoring of water a win-win, research shows

Media Release

12 December 2016

New research has revealed that citizen science monitoring of water is a win-win for scientists and volunteers—one gains access to new data, and the other the skills and confidence to become involved in discussions over what is happening to their streams.