Freshwater

We provide public information on river, lake, and groundwater conditions across New Zealand including freshwater quantity and quality.

Rachel Crawford and Paul Franklin inspecting a fish passage on the Waikato River.

Freshwater and Estuaries Update

A seasonal review and outlook for New Zealand's water resources, and an update on NIWA's freshwater research

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    Formal identification keys

    Formal identification keys are the scientifically accepted way to identify species. These will allow the identification of species which are unclear when using quick guides.

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    An Overview of New Zealand's Freshwater Fish Fauna

    Compared to other countries, New Zealand has a sparse freshwater fish fauna of just over fifty species. But it is unique and comprises at least thirty-five native species of which thirty-one are found only in New Zealand.

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    Publications - mitigation systems (formerly rehabilitation and protection)

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    Freshwater biosecurity - publications

      

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    Catchments to estuaries - publications

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    Causes and effects of water quality degradation - publications

    These are some recent publications related to the causes and effects of water quality degradation programme.
    Freshwater quality

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    Environmental flows - publications

    These are some publications related to the Environmental flows programme.
    Hydrology and flow
    Rivers

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    Hydrological observations and predictions - publications

    Publications related to the Hydrological observations and predictions programme.
    Hydrology and flow
    Rivers

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    Fish risk assessment

    Research Project
    NIWA has developed a rapid, desktop model which assesses the potential impact of introducing new fish species to New Zealand. The model is customised to New Zealand's unique environment and endemic fish.

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    Mitigation systems

    Developing techniques for protecting, enhancing and rehabilitating the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems and the cultural value they provide.
    Freshwater restoration

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    Catchments to estuaries

    Understanding and predicting the connections between catchments and estuaries to improve the management of diffuse-source contamination.

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    Causes and effects of water quality degradation

    Developing & monitoring technologies, statistical assessment methods & community approaches to assess the state, trends & drivers of water quality.
    Freshwater
    Freshwater quality
    Freshwater pollution