Whitebait Connection

Empowering communities to protect freshwater ecosystems

Whitebait Connection is a nationwide environmental education programme that empowers communities, landowners and schools to explore, understand, and protect freshwater ecosystems. It focuses on native freshwater fish, particularly whitebait species, and teaches participants about their life cycles, habitats, and threats. Through hands-on learning, stream studies, and restoration projects, it encourages kaitiakitanga and community action to improve waterway health and support the survival of these taonga species.

Key activities

Stream Health Assessments – Checking water clarity, temperature, and flow to evaluate the health of local waterways.
Macroinvertebrate Sampling – Collecting and identifying freshwater insects and bugs as indicators of stream health.
Native Fish Surveys – Identifying and learning about whitebait species and their habitats.
Water Quality Testing – Measuring pH, nitrates, phosphates, and other chemical indicators.
Riparian Planting – Restoring streambanks by planting native species to improve habitat and reduce erosion.
Spawning Site Monitoring – Locating and protecting key whitebait spawning areas.
Catchment Mapping and Impact Studies – Understanding how land use affects freshwater ecosystems from mountains to the sea.

Impact

History

The Whitebait Connection programme was developed in Northland in 2000 by Stefan Seitzer and Vince Kerr. In 2002, the Northland-based Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust (then known as Ngā Maunga ki te Moana Conservation Trust) was formed as a charitable umbrella and support organisation for both the WBC and Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) programmes. Both programmes were created in response to an urgent need for greater community engagement in freshwater and marine conservation, and have become leading models for education for sustainability (EFS) in New Zealand.

Stefan and Ira Seitzer successfully led the national development and coordination of the WBC programme from 2001 until 2008, serving as founders and trustees. At the 2008 WBC wānanga, held at their home in Ngunguru, both Stefan and Ira stepped down to pursue new ventures. In April 2008, Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust trustee and consultant Kim Jones took on the role of Whitebait Connection National Coordinator.

Get involved

You can get involved with the Whitebait Connection in several ways:

Schools: Teachers can register their school to take part in the programme, which includes classroom learning and field trips.
Volunteering: Join local stream restoration or monitoring events as a community volunteer.
Partnerships: Community groups, iwi, and councils can partner with Whitebait Connection on freshwater conservation projects.
Training: Educators and facilitators can take part in training to deliver the programme in their region.
Contact: Reach out to us via our contact page to find your local coordinator.