Freshwater – rnzngin Fifth Estate

October 30, 2024

Meet the Whitebait | Conservation blog

Source: Department of Conservation

Freshwater Ranger Suze Harris is based in Hokitika and studies migratory galaxiids on the West Coast. Here she explains a summary of what whitebait grow up into, and what habitats you can find them in.

There are 5 whitebait species in the Galaxiidae family (excluding smelt/cucumber fish, which are not a true galaxiid). Each have their own habitat preferences and unique behaviours! They do not have scales and tend to be nocturnal to feed on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates while avoiding predation by bigger fish.

Īnanga (Galaxias maculatus)

Image supplied by: Suze Harris. Image credit: Angus McIntosh

The most famous of the whitebait species, making up 90% of any whitebait fritter (depending on the river). Highly fecund (produce a lot of eggs) and live close to the coast. They are weak swimmers and cannot climb, so they stick to slow-moving waters such as wetlands, swamps and lowland streams. Their greatest threats are fish passage barriers (such as overhanging, perched culverts or structures with high velocities running through them), habitat loss, and introduced species. Īnanga spawn in autumn on spring tides on the sides of creeks and rivers. Generally, they live 1-2 years, some spawn twice. Like the rest of the whitebait species, they can live a lot longer in captivity.

Giant kōkopu (Galaxias argentus)

Image supplied by: Suze Harris. Image credit: Angus McIntosh

Giants are the largest of the whitebait species, with the record length being 450mm, and were the first Galaxiidae to be described in 1789. The golden spots are very distinctive, and its colour pattern inspired the generic name of Galaxias to the whitebait family – referring to the profusion of stars in the galaxy. They are territorial in nature, usually lurking in slow-flowing waters in lowland runs and pools, and feast on large insects like cicadas and wēta. Their spawning ecology is still being unravelled by ecologists, a recent study suggests there are freshwater migrations to and from their domain to spawn.

Eggs are deposited in floods during autumn on the banks of dense canopy cover. They usually run later in the whitebait season. Because they require instream cover with overhanging vegetation, they are disappearing from the east coasts of both islands. Some can live beyond 20 years, up to 40 years in captivity.

Banded kōkopu (Galaxias fasciatus)

Image supplied by: Suze Harris. Image credit: Alfonso Siciliano

Bandeds are common throughout the coast, and are the smallest in the whitebait stage, often golden in colour. They are difficult to differentiate from the other kōkopu when they are young, but the key feature in larger fish are stripes connect over their backs, which is easiest to see towards their tail. They rely on terrestrial insects and are sensitive to intensive land development and sedimentation, hence why they are less common on the east coasts of both islands. They are happy in any type of forests, including pine, beech, and rainforests.

Shortjaw kōkopu (Galaxias postvectis)

Image supplied by: Suze Harris. Image credit: Angus McIntosh

The rarest of the whitebait species, shortjaws are named due to their overbite. They do not have distinct markings other than a black patch behind their gill plate, a blue-green eye, and a dark fringe on their fins. Territorial in nature, they like rocky streams with stable pools to live out their adult lives, likely ranging between 7-15 years. Little is known about these fish due to their solitary nature, but like the other kōkopu species, they spawn in autumn floods on the banks of streams, eggs develop in moist leaf litter and get carried away by floods out to sea. They tend to not coincide with beech forests, so are very rare south of Ōkārito.

Smoothwater River is the furthest southern record on the West Coast, and none have ever been recorded in Fiordland. They are now thought to be extinct from Canterbury. The West Coast is the densest area for shortjaws nationally due to habitat availability and decent water quality.

Kōaro (Galaxias brevipinnis)

Image supplied by: Suze Harris. Image credit: Angus McIntosh

Also called climbing galaxias, Kōaro are the best climbers of the galaxiid family. They have elongated bodies with similar golden markings to a leopard. Their enlarged pectoral fins are ribbed, helping them climb any wet vertical surface. They can be found at the headwaters of rivers such as the Arahura and the Haast, even in the heart of the Southern Alps, which makes their larval migration out to sea incredible. There are lake-locked populations in NZ, including Lake Wānaka. They like rocky, tumbling streams and can be seen “moon bathing” on top of wet rocks in streams at night, which is likely a tactic to avoid tuna (eel) predation.

Whitebait season

Remember if you’re unsure of what the whitebait fishing regs are or would like to know more about the whitebait fishery go to our DOC website Whitebaiting: Things to do (doc.govt.nz). If you’re wanting to speak to one of our local rangers, please contact your local DOC office for more information or email whitebait@doc.govt.nz

October 17, 2024

Future focus critical for Doubtless Bay restoration | Conservation blog

Source: Department of Conservation

Erosion-prone banks, sedimented estuaries and waterways smothered with all the worst weeds. This is the confronting riverscape in Doubtless Bay on Northland’s east coast.

Scratch below the surface though and you find secretive native fish, kōura and insects thriving in little pockets, excellent swimming holes, hapū who care deeply for their awa and whenua, and a community that totally supports work to restore the rivers. It’s for their children, mokopuna and future generations.

Climate change effects in the bay

DOC’s Ngā Awa river ranger Maddy Jopling lives in the area and has seen issues with flooding, erosion and pollution after storms and heavy rain first-hand. She’s not alone.

Farmers have come to fear heavy rain warnings, knowing they will be faced with costs to move and repair fences. Slips destabilise plantation forests and add to fine sediment being carried downstream. Hapū have noticed the loss of prime cockle beds near the Taipā River mouth in the last 20 years. Lifestyle block owners are concerned about the rivers nibbling away at their land and its value diminishing.

“We’re already seeing climate change happening here with more intense weather and more frequent, damaging floods,” says Maddy.

“And sadly, there are other things we’ll have to contend with in the future, such as worse droughts, increased risk of wildfires and sea-level rise affecting land around the coast.”

Taipā River estuary where hapū have noticed increased sediment and falling numbers of cockles in the last 20 years. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

Healthy rivers need healthy land

Maddy’s job as river ranger for Doubtless Bay is to work with hapū and community to restore the biodiversity of the rivers from source to sea. The bay’s three rivers and their tributaries are treated as a single catchment, so there’s a big area involved.

“It’s critical to think about the future when planting or restoring habitat for native species in Doubtless Bay. Otherwise we won’t get the improvements in river health and biodiversity that we all want.”

A local hapū collective and many local landowners, groups and agencies are interested in or are already involved in restoration work. There is also support from industry representatives.

“The hapū collective wanted to know more about how climate change is likely to affect their rohe and what they could do now to build resilience. I’d also heard a lot of people talk about how the trees they’d put in had collapsed or fencing that had been washed away by floods.”

River ranger Maddy Jopling pointing out locations of the day’s site visits. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

Equipping the community with best practice revegetation information

Maddy says she saw an opportunity for DOC to support future work by providing best-practice, practical information to help advise and prioritise restoration planting in the catchment.

“We wanted to help people make the best decisions about what to plant where and how to tackle the really difficult issues.

“People also told me about what had worked for them in the past. So when we were setting up the project, we knew it was going to be important to visit a whole range of different places, especially those that are typical of many places here. It makes sense that local people know their land better than anyone.”

Drawing on ecology and mapping expertise

The project started with hapū, community members and DOC science and technical staff taking forest ecologist Dr Adam Forbes and mapping specialist Dr Brad Case on a tour of the catchment. The group visited more than 20 diverse sites in the in the Awapoko, Oruru and Oruaiti subcatchments over 3 days in late summer.

Brad Case presenting maps at a community seminar before the site visits. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

Based on this information and the site visits, the pair have created treatments for 12 different types of habitat in the catchment. The treatments outline possible changes to the vegetation to take climate change and human preferences into account, protect the coast and freshwater and restore wetlands.

Adam says visiting all the different sites in Doubtless Bay was really important.

Adam Forbes discussing revegetation options on a site visit. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

“I couldn’t have done this without going to the sites and talking to everyone. It enabled me to find out what’s out there and what the issues are.”

He has mined a range of databases to create the treatments, drawing on list of plants for the area, planting densities, flammability ratings and listed options to tackle some of the catchment’s big issues.

“I’ve included a list of species that are relevant for restoration in these catchments for both the pioneer stage and the enrichment stage, once the canopy has been established. There are some neat regionally specific endemic species included, which provide options for people.”

Adam has helpfully provided information on timing, risks, management, maintenance and avenues of support.

Some examples of revegetation treatments

One suggested treatment is for sites in the lower rivers where īnanga spawn. The areas are currently open and weedy with willows and poplars that can keel over into the river during floods. Adam suggests getting light native forest established, including species that īnanga favour for spawning.

Alligator weed, crack willow and ginger are among the profilic weeds established at many sites in the lower rivers. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

Another treatment is for steep hill country with a tendency to slip. These areas are currently in pasture but establishing native vegetation would stabilise the hillsides and reduce erosion downstream.

Mapping reveals hotspots for priority work

Brad has created a series of catchment maps that show different information about the catchment such as susceptibility to erosion and flooding. Overlaying the maps highlights hotspots where multiple issues overlap.

Adam has included many of these areas in his 12 revegetation treatments.

Map of the Doubtless Bay catchment showing vulnerability to climate change effects from lowest (green) to highest (red).

Maddy continues, “When I saw the catchment mapping, I was really excited about the fact that it will help us prioritise restoration as a community at a landscape scale.”

“When you’re going out and doing your restoration work, the scale can be quite overwhelming. There’s so much to do! But the way Brad’s done the modelling makes it really obvious where we need to focus a bit more effort from a climate change perspective.”

Sharing the findings

The report is now available from our website: Doubtless Bay rivers webpage (or download Doubtless Bay revegetation options)

“Adam and Brad have shared the report and discussed their findings with the community already. We’re really interested in feedback though and will continue to work with the community to put the information into practice.”

About Ngā Awa river restoration programme

Taking a whole catchment approach, Ngā Awa is working in partnership with iwi, hapū and communities to restore the biodiversity of 12 rivers from mountains to sea. The three rivers in Doubtless Bay are one of the restoration catchments.

The programme’s goal is to see river ecosystems and species thriving from mountains to sea, which enrich people’s lives. This is achieved by collaborating with others, co-designing and co-leading with iwi, hapū and whānau and recognising climate change. Planning the restoration work is underpinned by sound technical and scientific advice.

From left, Adam Forbes, Brad Case and Tiger Tukariri (Matarahurahu, Kenana) checking possible sites to visit in the upper Oruaiti catchment. Image credit: Sarah Wilcox.

July 23, 2024

Rats snapped devouring eggs of threatened fish | Conservation blog

Source: Department of Conservation

Written by Sarah Wilcox.

The shock find came only days after the discovery of a cluster of shortjaw kōkopu eggs in the first ever documented ‘nest’ from Northland.

Freshwater ranger Fern Donovan found the eggs after hours of intensive searching along the banks of a tributary of the Waipoua River. She set up a trail cam on the nest site and checked it daily.

Left: Fern in her waders, with a waterfall the fish travel up to get to the spawning areas | Sarah Wilcox, DOC. Top right: Shortjaw kōkopu nest site | Fern Donovan, DOC. Bottom right: Translucent shortjaw kōkopu eggs on the leaves and rocks beside the stream | Fern Donovan, DOC.

“Each day there were less and less eggs – I assumed they were getting washed away by rain, but when I saw the video my heart sunk, I felt really, sad as I’d spent so much time studying the fish and got to really care about them.”

She describes the eggs as “protein pearls” that would be particularly attractive to the rodents in autumn, with high rat numbers and food supplies starting to dwindle with cooler temperatures.

The rat (or rats) was filmed returning multiple times over several nights to clean out the nest. Within 10 days the only eggs left were unviable or mouldy, and clearly no longer appetising.

Fern’s trail camera captured a rat eating the shortjaw kōkopu eggs | DOC.

A partnership with Te Iwi o Te Roroa

The rohe of Te Roroa is situated on the Kauri Coast and includes the Waipoua Forest, home of Tane Mahuta. Taoho Patuawa, science advisor for the iwi, has been closely involved with the shortjaw research project.

“With the discovery of the eggs has come the discovery of the problem. It’s a clear demonstration of the impact that pests are having on our taonga species. The work that’s been done to get to the discovery has been fantastic, but it highlights the real struggles facing the largely unheralded species.”

Taoho points out that even in a forest with good habitat, there are no guarantees of successful breeding.

“The species is clearly at-risk at this critical part of their lifecycle because of the ongoing pressures we have from pests.”

A pool in Fern’s study stream | Fern Donovan, DOC

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A shortjaw kōkopu | DOC

DOC and Te Roroa, along with other organisations, have been working together to restore the Waipoua River from mountains to sea for more than 5 years.

“We’re walking this journey together. There’s a lot to do, but it’s the good people who make the relationship successful. We’re working with nature for the betterment of our people and the landscapes we live and work in.”

Bait stations deployed for autumn 2024

Video footage of the rat predation provided evidence for Te Roroa and DOC to put intensive predator control in place ahead of this year’s spawning season.

“We were able to move swiftly to put in a line of bait stations 50 metres apart along the stream margins, as well as another line further back,” says Fern.

The bait stations are topped up regularly so they never run out.

Triangles marking the bait line | Tom Donovan

A rat caught on one of Fern’s trail cameras | DOC

“It’s a big forest so we’re assuming there will be constant re-invasion into the area. Especially at this time of year when rodent numbers are peaking.”

Tracking tunnels show that the strategy is working, with June 2024 results showing just 3% of the tunnels in the treatment area were visited by rats but 96% visited in the non-treatment area. At a control site (with no bait stations) in an adjacent area, shortjaw nests have been predated by rats.

2024 results looking promising

The 2024 breeding season at Fern’s study site got off to a great start.

“I’ve found three nests so far. The trail cam footage picked up rat predation at one nest but not all the eggs have been eaten – fingers crossed some of them make it. Hopefully they are finding the bait blocks more tasty!”

Shortjaw kōkopu eggs on leaves near the stream | Fern Donovan, DOC

She is also pleased to report that some of the eggs developed tiny black eyes.

“I’ve never seen that before – last year the eggs were all eaten before that stage. I’ve also set up drift nets in the stream so I am hopeful that we might catch some larvae as they’re washed downstream on their way to the sea.”

Fern is waiting for the next big flood to wet the eggs and trigger hatching.

A story that remains incomplete

Taoho says the innovative and dedicated work at-place has led to some pretty immediate conservation strategies.

“What Fern’s found is a neat piece of the puzzle, but the story is incomplete. We don’t know yet what success looks like for this species or what numbers should be present in the catchment.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing what we achieve this year and beyond. It’s good to have such a concentrated effort in our forest. What we’re finding out here will be really valuable for protecting this taonga species both here and in other parts of Aotearoa, and ensuring it can thrive.”

Fern’s story

Fern grew up as a ‘bush baby’ in Hokianga and spent a summer during her undergrad study working for her family business, Donovan Ecological Management.

“We surveyed the reaches of the Waipoua River looking for different fish species as part of DOC’s restoration work. It was an incredible opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful and remote places in the catchment.”

Fern (centre) with her parents Tom and Karina Donovan, getting ready for an evening studying the threatened fish | Sarah Wilcox, DOC

“Shortjaw kōkopu were the fish we saw least frequently. I didn’t have to dig too deep to see there was a whole lot that’s not known about them. I spoke to the DOC scientists who helped me identify the most important knowledge gaps, and these formed the basis of my Master’s research project at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.”

She intensively researched the population of shortjaw kōkopu in the Waipoua River and completed her thesis in early 2024. Fern was appointed to DOC as a freshwater ranger in September 2023.

Studying the nocturnal fish population | Sarah Wilcox, DOC

A shortjaw kōkopu at the study site | Sarah Wilcox, DOC

The challenges of studying a rare, nocturnal fish

Shortjaw kōkopu are only found in Aotearoa New Zealand and are the rarest of six species of native fish caught as whitebait. Their conservation status is Threatened – Nationally Vulnerable. Until Fern’s discovery, spawning sites for this species had only ever been observed in Taranaki.

“The fish lay their eggs in moss or leaf litter just out of the water during a flood or high-water event. The eggs sit on the bank for at least 2–3 weeks to develop into larvae and are then carried downstream on the next big rain event. It’s the most bizarre life history with so much room for failure – the eggs could so easily dry out or be washed away before they’ve developed!”

Fern describes the searching as literally looking for a needle in a haystack.

“I go out when the water’s dropped and look above the waterline but below the wetted edge. I use a headtorch even in the daytime as the eggs are so tiny and hard to see – only 1-2 mm in diameter. To me they are like perfect pearls.”

Shortjaw kōkopu ‘nests’ are simply a collection of tiny translucent eggs | Fern Donovan, DOC.

“The searching is very intensive and quite soul-destroying. There are so many rocky crevices and patches of leaves to look at. You can only spend about 3–4 hours at a time doing it because it’s so intense. But when you do find the eggs, they’re really obvious – hundreds of eggs sitting there. It’s the most amazing feeling!”

Fern takes her cue to start looking for eggs by monitoring the adult fish in the stream. Because they’re nocturnal, the work starts 30 minutes after sunset and finish after midnight in the summer.

“We’ve been studying the fish here for a couple of years and we see the females getting heavier in autumn as their bellies become full of ripe eggs. If they suddenly lose weight and look skinny again, you know they’ve laid eggs, so that’s the time to go out looking.”

A shortjaw kōkopu from Fern’s study site | Fern Donovan, DOC

A shortjaw kōkopu being measured | Fern Donovan, DOC

When nests are found, Fern takes 4–8 eggs from each site for DNA analysis to confirm their identity. She also records detailed information about the sites such as the location, slope, canopy cover and what material they were laid in.

“This is crucial information to inform our work to secure the species both in the Waipoua River and other catchments.”

More information:

This project is part of DOC’s Ngā Ika e Heke freshwater migratory fish workstream, securing populations of shortjaw kōkopu, īnanga, longfin eel/tuna and lamprey across Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Waipoua River is also in DOC’s Ngā Awa river restoration programme, which is working in partnership with others to restore the biodiversity of 14 rivers from mountains to sea.

April 23, 2024

Innovative electric barrier protects mudfish habitat | Conservation blog

Source: Department of Conservation

Written by Environment Canterbury.

About 200 trout have been relocated within Hororata’s Bealey Stream as part of a wider project to protect the ‘Nationally Critical’ Canterbury Mudfish/kōwaro.

A native freshwater Canterbury Mudfish/kōwaro | Photo: © Rod Morris

The Brown Trout were situated upstream of an underwater electric barrier, which is providing a safe haven for kōwaro in a pocket of habitat on Haldon Pastures Farm.

The solar-powered ‘fish fence’ was activated in 2021 and is thought to be the first of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. It consists of three underwater iron structures, which send out electric pulses to discourage trout from moving upstream – where they would otherwise predate on the mudfish. This has increased the upstream habitat size for this taonga species from about 800 metres, to 8,000 metres.

The project is a joint effort between Department of Conservation (DOC), Environment Canterbury, Fish and Game New Zealand, Fonterra and landowner John Grigg.

The mudfish team electric fishing for trout | Photo: Environment Canterbury

The agencies recently pitched in to relocate the residual trout population to the downstream side of the fence, to keep them away from the kōwaro.

An electric fishing method was used to capture the fish, which were then put into buckets, measured, and safely relocated. More than 70 trout were caught and transferred over a five-day period in early March, and since then, about 130 more have been moved.

Environment Canterbury Pou Matai Ko (Cultural Land Management Advisor), Steve Carrick, said this year’s low water levels were advantageous for electric fishing, as it improves access.

“This is the second year that we’ve got together for a week and come out and blitzed it. But this time, we were able to get to areas that we wouldn’t usually be able to.”

A brown trout caught by electric fishing | Photo: Environment Canterbury

The team measuring the trout | Photo: Environment Canterbury

He said the joint agency approach is key to the success of not just the trout transfer exercise, but the overall barrier project.

“It’s great to have those other agencies working with us, because their skillsets and knowledge bases, particularly from the DOC team – for the history of this place, gives us that long-term view.

“Of course, none of this work would be possible without the landowner’s cooperation. John’s willingness to give us access to the property and his support of these preservation initiatives, is invaluable.”

Steve and the team electric fishing for trout | Photo: Environment Canterbury

John is praising the ‘outside the box’ approach to protecting the kōwaro.

“It’s great to be involved in something so innovative, and totally different. Often you do have to think outside the square to protect nature.”

DOC biodiversity supervisor, Craig Alexander, said mudfish numbers have been declining over the years, and the barrier is one way of trying to secure populations into the future.

“The next round of population monitoring is due to be carried out in winter, so it will be interesting to see whether there’s any evidence yet of the barrier’s success.”

The joint team is also working with the barrier’s North American manufacture, Smith Root, to explore other ways of proving its functionality, without stressing the fish samples.

Check out the Environment Canterbury team as they relocate some of the trout.
Video: Environment Canterbury

January 17, 2024

iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao | Conservation blog

Source: Department of Conservation

Throughout the year we get people messaging, emailing and calling us up to help them identify different animals, plants and creepy crawlies they’ve found around Aotearoa. Requests come through our social media accounts, visitor centres and the DOC call centre. This increases over the summer period with more New Zealanders out and about exploring over their holidays, and some even coming across our native species in their own backyards!

We love seeing the photos and descriptions of your feathered and scaley finds. We often do our best to help identify species in question, however we don’t always have a scientist or species expert on hand to help identify your finds. So, our recommendation to all observers out there whether you are an expert or an amateur when it comes to our native wildlife, is to join iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao.

This blog covers the ins and outs of New Zealand’s ever-growing online forum for the nature community, previously known as NatureWatch NZ.

New Zealand Red Admiral | Image: Tony Wills

So, what is iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao?

Have you ever encountered a reptile, bird, species or plant that was unfamiliar to you? No matter the location, iNaturalist helps identify all sorts of different species both animal and flora. It is a simple process, you create an account, upload your images and become part of a close-knit online community.

A place where you can record what you see in New Zealand nature, meet other nature watchers, and learn about Aotearoa’s natural world. All while contributing to science. Every observation can contribute to our country’s biodiversity science. iNaturalist NZ – Mātaki Taiao was created and is managed by the New Zealand Bio-Recording Network Trust (NZBRN Trust), a registered Charitable Trust in New Zealand.

Mātaki Taiao is the Māori name for iNaturalist, which translates to watching nature. The word Mātaki means to gaze, watch, inspect, examine, or observe. Taiao translates to the natural world around us.

Before iNaturalist, NatureWatch NZ was launched in 2005. It incorporated the same aim as iNaturalist; however, users were unable to upload images. iNaturalist was created a few years later in 2008, in California, after three university students came up with the concept for their final project of their master’s degree.

It grew substantially, and became popular internationally in the following years, and iNaturalist now has 1.8 million registered users globally. It is also co-owned by the California Academy of Sciences, and the National Geographic Society.

iNaturalist is tailored for those who are both curious and knowledgeable, who want to be involved in nature that is available at their fingertips no matter their level of expertise. This site allows the user to:

Keep track and record their encounters with other organisms on their account
Crowdsource identifications, you can connect with experts who can help you identify the organisms you observe
Learn about nature, the user can build their knowledge by talking with other naturalists and helping others
Create useful data, help scientists and resource managers understand when and where organisms occur
Become a Citizen Scientist, find a project with a mission that interests you, start your own or get started by recording observations

Don’t just take our word! Ecologist Jon Sullivan has earned the title of one of New Zealand’s most prolific users of the app and shares why it is important for the conservation of our native wildlife and flora, encouraging New Zealanders to continue to post their observations.

Jon Sullivan is an Ecologist at Lincoln University in Canterbury. Alone, he has recorded tens of thousands of pictures and audio recordings of the many different creatures found in Christchurch. This includes, birds, insects, plants, mould, and mushrooms he has observed.

Jon Sullivan, Lincoln University Ecologist – snaps a fern to log on iNaturalist | Image: Joseph Johnson/STUFF

Since its introduction, the app has helped keep track of pest populations, indicate the change in the climate and the cause it is having on the life cycle of different species.

It has also, been an important factor in rediscovering species that were thought to have been extinct and has even helped the discovery of some new species through the many experts within the community.

Jon Sullivan is the curator for the New Zealand branch of iNaturalist – Mātaki Taiao. Alongside the NZ Bio-Recording Network, Sullivan was instrumental in optimising iNaturalist for New Zealand users. In 2014, Aotearoa became only the second country in the world, to get our own regional network – Mexico being the first.

iNaturalist uses computer learning to give a quick indication of what species the user might have observed in the picture or audio recording. As well as being home to several different experts, who quickly weigh in on what has been captured through the images.

With over 40,000 entries observed, many New Zealand firsts, Jon Sullivan has also contributed to the app by identifying around 50,000 species for other users.

Tracking the spread of new species is important for biosecurity and stopping pests, while protecting what is already there. It is something anyone can help with.

“New Zealand nature is amazing, and we need New Zealanders to be aware of that and engaged in what’s around them…By everyone paying more attention to nature, we’re seeing more new things…It’s also great fun. It makes every day a bit more of an adventure.”

Several of Jon’s finds have even been made as close to home as his backyard! He has logged 591 species, including 209 plants and 119 moths or butterflies. Finding a new species in his Eucalyptus trees, a giant thrip, winged insect – the first encounter in the South Island.

How do you use iNaturalist – Mātaki Taiao?

No matter what level your expertise is, anyone can easily record their observations.

Go to https://inaturalist.nz/ or download the app from your app store on your mobile device.

Works on all your devices, you can always observe even without mobile reception or WIFI.

There are different components to the site, something for everyone. From observers to identifiers as well as different communities you can join. Projects is one of the many initiatives created on the site, where it allows you to pool your observations with other people. Whether you’re starting a citizen science effort of keeping tabs on the birds in your neighbourhood, Projects are the way to go.

iNaturalist NZ Guides, helps you learn about biodiversity all around the world. Wherever you’re exploring big or small, Guides can help you make sense of our planet’s range of diversity. The iNaturalist taxa guides are interactive online pictorial guides to assist in species identification. They can also be printed in various forms and enabled as offline guides available on mobile devices even when out of range of an internet connection.

Example of a Guide on iNaturalist

Guides have a front page with images of each species, and taxon pages describing each species.

User guides may have ‘tags’ describing attributes of each species, e.g. colour, size, shape (generally macro features that help distinguish between them). On the front page of each guide, you can select the attributes you observe and see the species that match.

Taxa info is available if you are looking to observe a particular group of species, such as kararehe (animals), reptiles, manu (birds), arachnids, fungi, amphibians, plants and aitanga pepeke (insects).

There has been mass engagement since the introduction of iNaturalist NZ, our own special regional network started, with 2,087,728 observations to date, 18,701 species observed, and 50,671 people have signed up, these numbers continue to grow each day.

Examples of the latest observations across the country

How to make an observation on iNaturalist:

Open the app or webpage, click the ‘observe’ icon. Here you can choose whether you’d like to take a photo, record sound, or upload an older photo.
Fill in what you saw – it’s okay to be vague like ‘duck’ or ‘mushroom’ if you’re not sure. The app can also use artificial intelligence to make suggestions.
Add where and when you saw it. Make sure to use the ‘captive/cultivated’ slider if it applies to your finding.
Press share. Experts will quickly weigh in to help verify your observation.

Before submitting your observations, make sure the photo is clear and showcases the species you are wanting to be identified.

To find different species in certain places around the country that have already been observed/identified go here. Places have been marked on the map of New Zealand; each place page displays all the species iNaturalist NZ knows about from that certain area. This includes information about the species abundance, conservation status, and who was the first to observe in that place on iNaturalist NZ. You can use filters to find what you are looking for base don taxonomic group, colour, conservation status, or just the full search option in the top right corner – which incorporates all of the above.

Example of the ‘Places’ section on iNaturalist showing the map of New Zealand

We at DOC strongly recommend our followers, as well as anyone who is interested in the many species our country has to offer, and the overall nature community, to download iNaturalist NZ. It is easy to make an account today. This site and app have been a huge help in the conservation of our land, species and nature since its introduction.

There have been species that have been rediscovered purely through an observation, where the location had been pinpointed, making it able to be identified from the experts onsite, these include our very own DOC staff. It is free to use, and we encourage you to have it available next time you are out and about as you do not need internet connection to be able to make observations making it accessible even out deep in the bush!

Make a difference and help preserve our native wildlife and flora this summer, by contributing to iNaturalist NZ today! And if you’re visiting Aotearoa this summer and want to continue observing in your own country, iNaturalist.org is your go to.

December 26, 2023

7 top tips for hanging out with wildlife this summer | Conservation blog

Source: Department of Conservation

The summer season is upon us once again, and with that brings the festive spirit, family time, relaxation and many adventures. Many kiwis, nation and bird alike will be taking pause, time to themselves and looking to recuperate before the new year.

Whether you are an advanced tramper, or a complete amateur when it comes to our national walks, lakes, forests and wildlife, the same rules apply, we urge you to consider and respect the wildlife that call the environment surrounding you, home.

Always remember DOC HOT. Our emergency hotline that operates 24/7.

Call 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468) immediately if you see anyone catching, harming or killing native wildlife.

Here are 7 important top tips we have compiled for hanging out with the wildlife this summer:

1) Take time before you go to research, plan and understand the different wildlife that inhabit where you are planning to go

One of the most important tips to take with you, is having a clear plan of action ready and available to you when you are on your tramp/hike/bike or swim. New Zealand is precious – everyone who lives and travels here has a responsibility to look after it.

Make sure you are utilising all information available to you on our website, detailed tips and tricks for your desired destination.

Take care of Aotearoa, and always be prepared for your trip:
– Weather
– Maps
– Land Safety Code
– Take a distress beacon
– Gear lists
Alerts: find out about changes in conservation areas that might affect the safety or enjoyment of your trip
Protect nature: keep your distance and don’t feed wildlife (more on this below). Follow any rules restricting dogs, fires, drones and vehicles.
– How to behave around wildlife
– Dog access
– Pets on public conservation land
– Fires on public conservation land

2) Don’t feed the native wildlife

Weka – Image: Sabine Bernert | ©

Over the days, weeks, months of your travelling/tramping/exploring, protect our precious native species by keeping your distance and not feeding them.

Don’t share your picnic with birds, no matter how convincing they may be, especially our cheeky kea.

Our birds evolved without human food and aren’t used to it – it can make them sick and can even be fatal. Wildlife congregating in areas known for human food can also spread disease. If kākā or kea eat food such as nuts and seeds they may develop metabolic bone disease.

So, don’t feed our wildlife – even if they ask.

3) If you want a picture, don’t get close – use your zoom instead

Getting too close stresses wildlife.

Top tip: enjoy marine mammals – from a distance. Especially seals and sea lions.

Keep at least 20 m, the length of two buses, away from seals and sea lions. If you are too close, they may panic and stampede, hurting themselves in the process. Some may become aggressive, especially if you are blocking their escape route to the sea or near their babies.

They can move as quickly as you can.

Although they look cute, they have a nasty bite. Their resting time on land is important, so try not to disturb them.

If you are in the water, on your boats, jet skis, paddle boarding or even just swimming – and you are lucky enough to see one of our marine mammals (e.g. dolphins or whales), it is important to stay back and give them space.

Before you go check the rules for operating boats or swimming near marine mammals here: Sharing our coasts with marine mammals (doc.govt.nz)

4) Leave nesting birds ALONE

If you come across a roped off or signposted area, it may be a nesting ground for one of our critically endangered species, like dotterel or black billed gulls.

You need to avoid these places to protect our species.

Make sure your dogs are kept away as well.

It is important to remember, not all birds nesting spots are marked, so stay alert while walking on dunes or riverbeds and avoid any birds you see.

Driftwood provides good cover for New Zealand dotterel chicks and eggs
Image: Mithuna Sothieson | DOC

5) Take extra care if you have dogs with you

Having your best friend on your adventure seems like a great idea at first, unless your best friend is furry and four-legged with a nose for investigating! Do yourself a favour, make sure you know where you can take your dog and access rules – different areas have different rules on if you can take your dog there or not. Some areas allow dogs, others require a permit, and some do not allow dogs at all.

Birds get stressed when chased by dogs. One panicked seal can start a chain reaction in a breeding colony, where pups are at risk of being crushed by adult seals rushing to the sea for safety.

A wildlife scan makes a good game plan.

Some of the wildlife on our beaches can be quite camouflaged. Sleeping fur seal/kekeno, or sea lion/pakake can look a lot like a log or bit of driftwood from a distance. Visually scan the area so you are always one step ahead of your dog and you can plan where to walk.

Example of fur seals/kekeno being well camouflaged. There’s a lot of seals in the background, can you spot them?
Image: Shellie Evans

Different coloured leads

You might start noticing more traffic-light-coloured leads around the place because of Lead the Way. These are a bonus for dog safety as they let others know the temperament of your dog.

Green is friendly with dogs and people
Orange is caution sometimes nervous/reactive with new dogs or people
Red is often nervous or reactive with new dogs or people
Yellow is disabled so vulnerable to some interactions

It’s always good practice to ask an owner permission first before approaching their dog – no matter what colour lead, bandana or collar a dog might be wearing, if they say no, please respect their dog’s need for space.

Not all dogs like other dogs or people.

If you ignore dog access rules or conditions, you may be issued an infringement fine or prosecuted if you take your dogs into no access areas, controlled areas without a permit, or breach the conditions of your permit.

A dog may be seized and impounded or destroyed if it is found in a national park or controlled dog area without a permit.

Report dogs where they are not allowed to Animal Control or DOC:

Animal Control: +64 7 348 4199
0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)

Cats are not allowed on national conservation land under any circumstances.

6) Keep New Zealand clean

Take all rubbish with you and use toilets where provided. Be a tidy kiwi, as you would do in your own home, our beautiful nature and wildlife deserve the same respect.

Poo in a loo – and be prepared when there isn’t one

Like all waste, it’s important to properly dispose of used period products when tramping. Take used tampons and pads away with you and know how to properly empty menstrual cups in the backcountry.

Help keep our natural environment free of litter. Litter harms our environment and wildlife. This includes food scraps which feed pests like rats, stoats and mice.

Be prepared to carry your litter away with you.

There are no rubbish bins in the bush. It helps to come prepared with a container or bag for rubbish and to remove excess packaging before you go.

Packing away a banana skin
Image: DOC

Do not discard plastics, nylon fishing line and other types of rubbish at sea. Like whales, large filter-feeding sharks and rays can accidentally ingest these, and all species suffer from entanglement in marine debris.

7) Finally, be respectful

Respect others, respect culture.

Help everyone enjoy the outdoors by being considerate of others when you’re out in nature. Make space for others, keep noise down and read up on tramping hut etiquette.

Bikes, dogs and drones can really impact on other people, so make sure you are following the rules and being considerate to others.

Cultural heritage sites are places in the landscape that tell the physical, spiritual, and cultural stories of our past. They are places we value and connect to as New Zealanders. When visiting a heritage site please treat it with care and respect, so it can be enjoyed for many generations to come.

For Māori, public conservation land is a taonga (treasure) and of special significance. Many of these places are wāhi tapu (sacred to Māori) and need to be treated with respect. If you are visiting a place that is wāhi tapu, there may be restrictions on access. There may also be tikanga (protocols) in place, such as not eating, running, or making loud noises while at the wāhi tapu site. Respect these tikanga.

Be a good kiwi and help keep our land clean and free from harm.

This time of year, has snuck up on most of us, we know! So, make sure in all the last-minute adventures you are undertaking, you have made time to plan, prepare and are ready to protect. Act responsibly and safely for yourself, as well as those of all species, sizes and forms in the environment surrounding us that need our help to keep Aotearoa their home.

November 23, 2023

Ranger reflections from a week at Rotomairewhenua | Conservation blog

Source: Department of Conservation

Last summer Sam Fisher spent a week in one of the most beautiful places in Aotearoa. Sam chatted to us about the sacred lakes in Nelson Lakes National Park and the latest measures to keep them safe from a new, invisible threat.

Rotomairewhenua / Blue Lake, Nelson Lakes National Park | Sam Fisher, DOC

I was previously working in IT but switched to conservation. Early midlife crisis career change you ask? Something like that. I completed the ranger training programme earlier this year and was lucky enough to have my summer placement with the Nelson Lakes team.

As part of my placement, I got to be hut warden at Blue Lake Hut for a week.

On the way up to Rotomairewhenua / Blue Lake | Sam Fisher

Yeah, it’s a magic spot

Rotomairewhenua / Blue Lake is nestled amongst the 2,000m peaks of the Nelson Lakes National Park, sitting at about 1,200m above sea level. It takes 2 days to get there, a tramp that takes you through vast valleys and over high mountain passes. It’s a journey into the remote heart of the park.

Look at the photos and see how stunning it is there! Rotomairewhenua has the clearest freshwater in the world with a visibility of around 70 metres underwater. Incredible.

The pristine water of Rotomariewhenua / Blue Lake, Nelson Lakes National Park | Sam Fisher, DOC

I was super fortunate with the weather when I was up there. It’s such a beautiful backdrop and you get some amazing reflections off the lake.

The bonus of being the warden is that you get the place to yourself for a good chunk of the day (after the cleaning is done of course!), while the trampers are moving through. Standing up there on a clear day, it’s something else to see. Everything is blue – blue sky and blue lake on a bluebird day.

Sam’s obligatory tramping selfie, high above Rotomariewhenua / Blue Lake | Sam Fisher, DOC

The birds are stunning too – you’ve got rifleman hanging out all around around the lake. You can just sit back and listen to them and see if you can see them. They’re one of my favourite birds to spot because they’re always around there.

Life in the past lane

I’ve heard stories from older volunteers who spent time at Blue Lake Hut decades ago, that they used to dare each other to get in the lake because it’s so numbingly cold! Others used to use it and Rotopōhueroa / Lake Constance for washing or as a water supply.

I think people were hanging on to those memories, but today we know it’s not appropriate to do that. Times have changed, as have our practices.

We’ve wised up to respecting the culture

The lakes are now called by their original names on maps. So we have Rotomairewhenua / Blue Lake and Rotopōhueroa / Lake Constance on all the maps. This acknowledges the long history and high cultural significance that they have for Māori, particularly Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō iwi.

The lakes are tapu (sacred) and are not to be touched. This is to uphold their mauri (life force) and purity.

We show respect for the lakes and for the iwi by never touching the water. That means no swimming, filling drink bottles or washing clothes.

Rotopōhueroa / Lake Constance | Sam Fisher

Staying out of the water keeps these special lakes safe

The other message I tried to get across in my hut talks was about the serious threat of invasive algae getting into these lakes. Two microscopic algae – lindavia and didymo – are already present down the hill in Lakes Rotoiti, Rotoroa and Tennyson.

Lindavia produces lake snow, a really ugly snot-like slime that hangs below the surface of the water. Didymo coats rocks with a gross white material that looks like wet toilet paper. They would both really stuff up the lakes and headwaters of the rivers.

It could only take one person to wander into the lake with wet boots or togs on – even if they’d swum in Lake Rotoiti a few days ago. Or splash a drop of contaminated water from their drink bottle. That one innocent action could infect the lakes with invasive algae and spoil them forever.

Once the algae are there, there’s no way to get rid of them – no going back. It would destroy the visual and cultural significance and go against everything we’ve agreed to do in terms of protecting the environment for everyone, including Māori.

Talking to trampers and Te Araroa walkers, it seemed like the two-pronged approach to caring for the lakes – the cultural significance and the biosecurity – was well received and respected.

Alternative water available – you can cool off in the stream

Getting up to Blue Lake Hut is a big walk for sure. As a tramper I know it’s really, really nice to be able to have a refreshing dip at the end of the day.

Because you can’t swim in the lake, we’ve provided an alternative.

I made a track down to a stream where people can go. It’s just 5 minutes away and is all signposted before you get to the hut. It’s freezing cold but a great option on a hot day. The stream does turn into a pretty steep river just downstream, so we ask people to take a bit of care.

There are also those wet days when the hut is full of dripping wet gear and the fire’s going – then it’s more like a free sauna in there!

One of the beautiful rivers of the Nelson Lakes National Park | Sam Fisher

New cleaning stations

This summer we’re putting in cleaning stations near the main access points at Coldwater, Lakehead and Sabine Huts. It’s an extra step to reduce the chance of lindavia and didymo getting into our pristine rivers and alpine lakes.

As I said, those nasties have already got into the bigger, more accessible lakes – Rotoiti, Rotoroa and Tennyson. Lindavia arrived about 4 years ago so we’ve really had to tighten up our biosecurity to keep it out of the rest of the park.

The cleaning stations are pretty simple. There’s a tank with pre-made 10% detergent solution, a sink and a bucket underneath to hold the used solution. I’ve literally just finished painting them – DOC green of course!

The new cleaning stations under construction. These will help to prevent the spread of Lindavia into the alpine lakes | DOC

Everyone needs to clean all their gear that’s wet or damp from any river or lake water. So it’s stop, soak and wait for 10 minutes. This is the Check, Clean, Dry method that people have probably heard of, and yeah, it does work to kill those microscopic algae.

Most people know how important it is to use the cleaning stations in the upper North Island to protect kauri, so I think people will embrace this way of protecting our lakes too.

You just need to allow ten extra minutes to do the right thing. The cleaning stations are all near huts where people often stop to make a cuppa or have a snack anyway, so we’re anticipating that it won’t be much of a hassle.

For now and for the future

We’ve got a totally unique environment with the lakes and mountains up there. It’s got to be for everyone forever, not just for me today.

I sometimes ask people how they’d want to leave it for their kids, and their kid’s kids. I don’t have any kids (keeping well clear of that!) but do have plenty of nieces and nephews. I’d hate for them to come here and not get to see the same pristine environment I got to see.

So finally, on behalf of the team here at Nelson Lakes, we really welcome you to come and experience this amazing part of the world. And we trust that you’ll follow our simple rules to keep it that way for everyone who comes after us.

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