Remediating fish passage as kaitiaki of the wai
Native fish species supported through the work include kanakana, kōkopu, īnanga, common bully, redfin bully, bluegill bully, torrentfish, banded kōkopu, kōaro, and longfin eel and shortfin eel. “Most of these species need areas within the culvert to rest before they can continue on through.”
She also engages with landowners and members of the public, often with a casual chat on the side of the road, educating them on the work she and colleague Ben Coley are doing to improve fish movement throughout the region.
“They catch the enthusiasm and then they realise actually this is quite interesting and want to do all they can to support it,” Tania says.
She believes it is important to restore the mauri of the wai (water) because it creates and sustains life.
“As kaitiaki, our first responsibility is to Papatūānuku and we need to take care of the water, the creatures and the habitat because when that all thrives we as a species thrive. We can tell about the health of humans by the health of the environment that we live in.”
While kaitiakitanga (guardianship) is a theme that has followed her through her career, Tania’s journey now still intertwines with her previous life as a youth worker. ”I think this is important and I think this is what I was created to be and do, albeit I’ve been a youth worker most of my adult career, what I am learning I then teach to our young people because they’re the ones who are going to keep it going. If we can teach them about true kaitiakitanga then that resonates in the rest of their lives.”
Interested in a fish passage survey?
If you would like a fish passage survey on your property go to
www.es.govt.nz/jobs-for-nature/fish-passage-project and fill out our online form.
You can read the full Envirosouth magazine as a PDF online here.
