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Tuna

Cooking tuna (freshwater eels) , New Zealand

There are three species of tuna (freshwater eels) found in Aotearoa – longfin, shortfin and Australian spotted longfin. Tuna are one of the most important mahinga kai species. They are known to Māori by over 100 different names depending on their location and appearance.

Longfin tuna are endemic to Aotearoa and are classified as at risk – declining due to the impact of wetland drainage and other environmental changes.

Several techniques are used to harvest tuna including the use of baited hīnaki.

Related resources

Ngāi Tahu Mahinga Kai video

  • Tuna – featuring Iaean Cranwell harvesting and preparing tuna from Lake Wairewa

  • Download a PDF of the video transcript here

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Rights: Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu 
Published:31 August 2022Size: 3.09 MB