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  5. Community stories: Taking action for nature

Community stories: Taking action for nature

Saving whitebait and eels, Auckland

Part of the work of Watercare Services is to test water quality for native fish and elvers (baby eels) and relocate them from the lower Nihotupu dam, to the upper dam, where they’ll be safe from fishing. They also catch eels that are migrating back to Tonga in the higher dam and relocate them downstream so they can make their way to sea. The team relocate 2 to 300 whitebait and elvers a week, and in the high season about 10,000 fish total!  

Make a difference

See people getting hands-on to help our lakes and rivers.

Grab your phone and volunteer for a nature project near you: tepapa.nz/collaborate

This project is part of Te Taiao | Nature at Te Papa.

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    Volunteer for nature

    Volunteer for nature

    Get hands-on in nature in Aotearoa New Zealand and help make a difference in your community. Collaborate with your community and act for nature.

  • A steel structure with blue sky behind and a map of New Zealand overlaid on the right-hand corner
    Saving longfin eels, Bay of Plenty

    Saving longfin eels, Bay of Plenty

    Bill Kerrison is a true kaitiaki of tuna (eels) in New Zealand.

  • Two small birds on the beach with a map of New Zealand in the top-right corner
    Protecting beach birds, Piha

    Protecting beach birds, Piha

    Dotterels (tūturiwhatu) have only started nesting in Piha in the last two years. This community are building nest covers for the dotterel nests. Vehicles and dogs can destroy nests, so these covers make the public more aware of nest locations.