freshwater

Waitī is a whetū in the Matariki cluster. It is the star connected to freshwater: springs, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands...

Lakes380 – Our lakes’ health: past, present, future is the largest scientific study ever undertaken on lakes in Aotearoa New...

We rely on the natural world for recreation, building social connections and supporting our mental and spiritual health. Our land 2024 is an environmental report produced...

In Aotearoa New Zealand, water is our most precious resource, yet it is often taken for granted and perceived to be unlimited. Smart Water is a...

This Connected article, written and illustrated by Adele Jackson, looks at the discovery that fish and eels are using Wellington’s stormwater system as access between streams...

Wetland habitats are diverse places. They support an enormous range of animals from microscopic communities to some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest birds. Zooplankton – the...

Wetlands are defined by the presence of water – places where water covers the soil or where it is present at or near the surface for...

Kōura (freshwater crayfish, Paranephrops planifrons, P. zealandicus) are one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s original inhabitants. They have an ancient lineage that diverged from their Australian relatives...

The ruru (morepork, Ninox novae-zelandiae) is not an animal we normally associate with repo – wetlands. We are more likely to hear their haunting calls coming...

An indicator is something that can be measured or monitored. We use indicators to see changes or trends in things ranging from an individual bird species...

Wetlands once occupied nearly 10% of Aotearoa New Zealand’s land cover. In the last 150 years, 90% of these wetlands have been drained or degraded. Fortunately,...

Wetlands are ‘in between’ areas – they are permanently or intermittently wet areas on the margins of drier land or along the margins of water bodies...

Rivers and Us is a Waikato Regional Council (WRC) initiative to help educators, students and the community to consider the state of water in their local...

Rivers and Us is a Waikato Regional Council (WRC) initiative to help teachers, students and communities investigate the water in their local area. It explores how...

Urban rivers are generally the most polluted waterways in New Zealand. These river catchments include built-up areas with lots of people and industries. The water flows...

Maintaining good water quality is important for healthy ecosystems and healthy humans. There are several national, regional and local government agencies that look after water quality:...

A water catchment is an area of land and the water that collects and moves through it. A catchment is often bordered by hills or mountains....

Clean water is vital for ecosystems and the economy. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Science (NIWA), regional councils and other agencies regularly monitor streams...

There are more than 16,000 km of rivers and streams in the Waikato region, several vast lakes and wetlands and a myriad of smaller water bodies....

It is going to take all of us working together to rebuild the health of our rivers and streams. In this story, we meet Dr Amanda...

We usually think of insects as being animals of the land, but did you know that many insects spend part of their lives in water? Some...

This article recounts the conversation between Tane, his dad and the scientists they find testing the health of their local river. It looks at the information...

New Zealand’s native freshwater fish are unique – 51 of the 54 species are only found here in New Zealand. However, when asked to name a...

Kei te rauemi nei ētahi whakamārama mō ngā karangatanga matua ka kitea i a koe e tūhura ana i ngā kōawa wai māori, i ngā awa...

E pai ana te mātao ki ngā ika taketake. E waia ana rātou ki ngā arawai marumaru kua tupuria e te otaora ururua, i te mea...