Te Kūwaha and Māori

Local hapū and NIWA are working together to find out more about juvenile freshwater eels or tuna in streams connecting to the Wairua River in the Wairoa catchment in Northland.

Erica Williams' story starts with the website of Moerewa School, where pupil Tyra-Lee explains her connection to a very special place in her small Far North town.

Tuna is a generic Māori word for freshwater eels. The word will be used interchangeably in this resource.

Tuna harvested from Lake Ōmāpere and Utakura River catchment have long comprised an important fishery for tangata whenua.

There are several ways to tell the three New Zealand eel species apart.

In comparison to the vast span of geological time, the estuaries that we see today are very recent coastal features.

Freshwater eels have an unusual life cycle which sees them travelling between the ocean, estuaries and freshwaters.

To prepare for changes in climate, our freshwater and oceans decision-makers need information on species vulnerability to climate change.

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

What does science tell us about New Zealand freshwater mussels?

Longfin eels are the largest and longest-lived fish in New Zealand's freshwaters, and where they are present they are the top predator.