Freshwater connections

The freshwater environment is a holistic system that connects landscapes, ecosystems and people. Freshwater connections can be physical, ecological, social, cultural or economic.

All freshwater occurs within a catchment – an area of land, often bordered by hills or mountains, in which the water is collected and through which it moves.

Catchments host ecosystems – the interactions/connections between plants, animals and microorganisms and the physical and chemical components of the natural environment.

Humans also have connections with freshwater. Water is the basis for all life. It is taonga, something to be cherished and looked after. For Māori, wai holds mauri – a spiritual life force that links the health of freshwater to everything that is connected to it.

The following resources provide information about the many connections within freshwater systems.

Articles

• Water catchments

• River ecosystems

• Waitī – freshwater environments

• Tōku awa koiora – curation of river resources

• Te Repo – curation of repo (wetland) resources

Media

• Wai Māori – interactive

• Awa and iwi – video

• Waitī – reflecting on our freshwater environment – infographic

Activities

• Mapping my local water catchment

• Build a model water catchment

• Freshwater ecosystem

Image: Pūkeko. Public domain.