How you can help at-risk native fish species

We’re doing this work because the community told us that protecting native fish species is one of their priorities. You told us this this through established Whaitua Committees.  

In response, we launched a project to help fish thrive on 1 January 2021. It’s called the Improving Fish Passage Project and it will run until 30 June 2026.   

By making it easy for fish to travel between rivers and streams to the sea, you’ll be doing your bit to protect threatened native fish species – so they’ll be around for future generations to enjoy.

For example: The tuna (eels) in our rivers need to travel to the sea to reproduce. Tuna have value as mahinga kai, which generally refers to freshwater species that have traditionally been used as food, tools or other resources.  

Plus many of us will have childhood memories of watching or feeding tuna in local streams and want our children and grandchildren to be able to have that same experience.  

You can email the Fish Passage Team at fishpassage@gw.govt.nz.

We’re happy to provide no-obligation advice about whether structures in your waterways are impacting native fish.  

When you get in touch with us to let us know you have a structure in a river or stream on your property:  

• One of our fish passage experts will set up a time that works for you to visit your property. 
• When they visit, they’ll examine any structures in waterways on your property to see if they are making it hard for fish to easily pass by. 
• To do this assessment, they’ll use a tool developed by NIWA. This way results are consistent, accurate and based on best practice.  
• If needed, they’ll offer no-obligation advice on improvements that would make it easier for native fish to pass by, as well as let you know about any support available.  
• It’ll be up to you to decide what, if anything, happens next. There are often simple ways of making it easier for fish to pass by potential barriers. 

We’ll be working to make it easier for fish to travel through the Region in stages. So, we may not be able to visit everyone who gets in touch right away.

But we still encourage everyone who has a culvert or other structures in a waterway on their property to get in touch with us now. That way we can set up a time to visit when we are in your area. Please email us at fishpassage@gw.govt.nz.

The Improving Fish Passage Project will continue until 2026.  

During this time we’ll focus on making it easier for fish to pass through 20 priority catchments. To be planned and coordinated, we’ll take action in a few areas at a time.  

If you live in Wellington Region have a structure in your river – we encourage you to get in touch with us at fishpassage@gw.govt.nz. It may just take a little more time before we’re able to come and take a look.   

Do you know someone with a culvert, or another structure, in a river on their property?  

Help protect native fish by encouraging them to get in touch with us by emailing fishpassage@gw.govt.nz.

Read this two-page document to find out more about fish in Wellington Region.  

Fish passage in the Wellington Region

New Zealand is home to more than 50 native freshwater fish species. Of these, around 70% are at risk of, or threatened by, extinction.

In the Wellington region, our waterways are… Read more here

date_range Published 24 Jun 2021

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