Freshwater systems

Ki uta ki tai refers to the concept of from the mountains to the sea. It acknowledges the journey that water makes across the land. Freshwater begins this journey as precipitation in the atmosphere and becomes part of freshwater systems that include streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and estuaries – before flowing to the sea or returning to the atmosphere. Freshwater is also held/stored as groundwater and in glaciers.

The following resources provide information about some of the components of freshwater systems.

Articles

• The water cycle

• Tōku awa koiora – curation of river resources

• Te Repo – curation of repo (wetland) resources

• The lakes of Aotearoa New Zealand

• Wetlands

• Disappearing glaciers

Media

• Learning about the water cycle – interactive

• Te whakamahi i ngā rauemi o Tuihonoa Te Reo o Te Repo hei whakarite ara whakaako – interactive

• Water distribution – video

Activities

• Water cycle models

• Water in nature

• Mapping my local water catchment

• Build a model water catchment

• Exploring my local lake

• Wetland (repo) connections – ecological and cultural perspectives

• Constructing an aquifer model

Image: Braided river, Canterbury. Public domain.