From the Kaimais to Kaiaua - Grassroots training for catchment groups in the Waikato

Written and photographed by Lorna Doogan, National Coordinator

Local stream hero Ric Balfour peering into the Karaka Stream sediment trap.

The Karaka Stream winds down the western side of the Kopu Hikuai range, curving through the land that had been clear-felled and mined in the late 1800s, through regenerating bush (and privet forest), and past back yards until it meets a sediment trap and a 600m expanse of concrete culvert. Built in the 1980s as a flood mitigation after the Thames Hospital got a bit soggier than intended, this concrete channel stretches through town down to the mudflats of the Firth of Thames.

The 600m long culvert restricts movement of migratory fishes between the harbour and the forested headwaters of the Karaka Stream, but protects local infrastructure.

This awa provided the classroom for the March 2025 Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust community workshop on īnanga spawning and freshwater monitoring. The two-day workshop was run with New Zealand Landcare Trust as part of the Wai Connection Project. This event would not have been possible without Wai Connection Waikato regional provider organisation Go Eco and their focus groups Waihou Piako Catchment Trust and Pokaiwhenua Catchment Group. 25 participants from Putāruru and Kaiaua descended on the Thames School of Mines for field based training sessions. 

Waikato Wai Connection Coordinator Wendy Boyce said,

“The workshop was practical with clear guidelines for identifying īnanga whitebait breeding sites, pest control, fencing, and planting. Local groups will be well prepared to take up the challenge thanks to this workshop.”

Nic Naysmith showcasing the thick streamside root mat that the adult īnanga (one of the whitebait species) like to spawn in (Yes, īnanga lay their eggs in the grasses beside the river).

On day one, Nicholas Naysmith, National Coordinator of the National Īnanga Spawning Programme (NĪSP) covered the important steps needed to identify, protect, and restore īnanga spawning grounds.

Mohi Korohina (Ngāti Hinerangi) and Jorja Gilmore (Friends of Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve Trust) listen as Nic explains how to identify and quantify īnanga eggs in riparian grasses.

Mohi Korohina (Ngāti Hinerangi) had this to say about the day,

"I didn't know anything about preserving īnanga. I knew that you mix them with an egg and put them on a toast, and you eat it. But, it's really nice to know how to preserve for future generations so they can eat out of that same place that you've been eating out of for all your life."

Hay bales installed as artificial spawning habitat at the bottom of the concrete slipway.

Nic Naysmith concluded day one by saying,

“It’s always an exciting opportunity to meet another group of people that have a shared interest and passion. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the outcomes of this enthusiasm in īnanga over the coming months and years, as the learnings from this wānanga are put into action.

Mohi Korohina (Ngāti Hinerangi) and Wiremu Johnstone (Wairere Mahi) at the SHMAK training.

"I enjoyed the whole lot. I knew nothing about anything yesterday when I came in, but I'm pretty sure I'm ten steps up the ladder now. Kia ora"

said Wiremu Johnstone, Kaitiaki Taiao Kaimahi for Wairere Mahi.

Day two was led by Patricia Hawkins (National Coordinator for Wai Connection) and covered aspects of how to measure stream health using community based freshwater monitoring tools that catchment groups can utilise.

Patricia Hawkins describing how to use a Gee minnow trap to monitor fish populations.

Hadleigh Putt and Amelia Paget, from Pokaiwhenua Landcare Group, said that they,

"Really enjoyed learning about the SHMAK (Stream Health Monitoring & Assessment Kit) tests. The next step will be to see if there's a kit somewhere near our catchment that we can utilise. Awesome to have some tools now that we can actually do water testing ourselves. There is also the potential to get a kit which could be used on local farms."

Hadleigh Putt at the SHMAK training.

A snapshot of life in the Karaka Stream - Macroinvertebrates in situ

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  Common bully in the sediment trap of the Karaka River

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  Predatory dragonfly nymph navigating the fine sediment of the Karaka Stream looking for lunch.

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  Freshwater shrimp picking algae and detritus off the rocks.

Blue-eyed tuna, living at the top of the culvert, getting ready to migrate to Tonga to breed - but stopped by the fish passage barrier of the slipway.

Jo Buchan from Enviroschools Waikato,

“I came in with a little bit of knowledge, but I feel like I'm leaving with a whole lot more confidence. Especially when I'm going to be working alongside students and sharing this with them, too.”

600m of shallow, exposed concrete slipway that the tuna need to navigate to reach the ocean.

Georgia Hallen from Enviroschools says,

"I came into this with barely any knowledge of freshwater, so to be able to get a better understanding of it was really cool. And getting in the field was also a bit of a highlight. I look forward to delivering some of the knowledge I learned to local schools in the area."

Fishing pressures that face them on the seaward side - this shortfin eel was trailing a hook and trace.

Patricia said,

“It was really awesome to connect with all of the participants, who were so enthusiastic. A big thanks to Ric for organising behind the scenes, and to  Go Eco for making this possible. I hope that participants learned something to take back to their  community and whānau that  can be shared and implemented.”

Willy and Keely Muir learning how to use a clarity tube.

Waiuku farmer Willy said the training was,

"Very educational and inspirational. A lot of learning to take home and to try and put in place in the old catchment. And nice to see all the tools that are available for us to put some quantifiable data together."

Upstream of the fish passage barrier - torrentfish were found.

A huge highlight of this wānanga was weaving connections throughout the entire catchment. It brought tangata whenua, farmers, and educators together to share knowledge and experiences. Many connections have been forged and we can’t wait to see this training delivered on the ground.

The Karaka Stream provides an example of how resilient our catchments are, even with huge human pressures - both historic and current. Given a chance, our local wildlife bounces back. Through Wai Connection we hope to create more of these chances around Aotearoa.

Full album

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Find out more about our mahi visit www.mountainstosea.org.nz

You can learn more about the National Īnanga Spawning Programme and access resources here www.mountainstosea.org.nz/nisp 

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  Macroinvertebrates

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  Debris flood barrier in the Karaka Stream

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  Mud crabs - when the holes stop in the intertidal it can indicate the saline wedge

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What next?

Learn more about Wai Connection.

Find whitebait in your awa.

Learn more about wet bugs in your stream.

Connect with Go Eco

Help Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust to protect te taiao - we appreciate every donation and volunteer sign up.

Funders

Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust provided this wānanga due to generous funding from Ministry for the Environment through Wai Connection.

Our partner in Waikato

Go Eco is our partner delivering the Wai Connection Project in the Waikato rohe. https://goeco.org.nz/

Connect with New Zealand Land Care Trust