Rivers

New Zealand has more than 70 river systems. NIWA capability supports the measurement, knowlege and tools need to manage, protect and restore these vital waterways and their ecosystems.

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    Monitoring and maintenance of kōura

    Once you have identified the problem, and applied the necessary tools for restoring kōura to your stream, the next phase of your project is to monitor the site to see whether restoration works.
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    Applying the right tools to restore kōura to lakes and streams

    The tools available for restoring kōura to lakes and streams depend on what is causing kōura to decline.
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    Why are kōura rare or absent in your waterway?

    Habitat and biological factors factors affect why kōura rare or absent in your waterway.
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    Are kōura present in your waterway?

    First, determine if kōura should be present in your stream.
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    Identifying the problem for kōura

    Identifying the factors causing kōura numbers to decline will allow you to determine which restoration tools you need to employ.
  • Guide to restoring kōura (freshwater crayfish) in lakes, rivers and streams

    Habitat degradation and the introduction of exotic plant and fish species have adversely affected kōura populations throughout New Zealand. However, there are a number of measures that we can use to restore kōura populations in lakes, rivers and streams.
  • Citizen science monitoring of water a win-win, research shows

    Media release
    New research has revealed that citizen science monitoring of water is a win-win for scientists and volunteers—one gains access to new data, and the other the skills and confidence to become involved in discussions over what is happening to their streams.
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    Scientists helping to create safer communities

    News article
  • Mapping our freshwater biodiversity

    Research Project
    The ability to properly manage our freshwater resources requires a solid understanding of the flora and fauna which live in and interact with them.
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    Environmental flows - publications

    These are some publications related to the Environmental flows programme.
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    Hydrological observations and predictions - publications

    Publications related to the Hydrological observations and predictions programme.
  • Hydrological observations and predictions

    How much water is in our rivers and groundwater aquifers, how has that has changed over time and how might it change in the future?