Archive: Waiology June 2014

Whitebait: more than meets the eye

Waiology • Aug 15, 2013

• conservation,
• fish,
• fishing,
• habitat loss,
• Natives,
• Whitebait

By Amber McEwan Beginning today, August 15th, a bunch of keen New Zealanders will creep out of their homes in the freezing dark morning and take to the rivers armed with waders, swandris and optimistic hearts. This canny lot set up their pozzies and then wait for luck to strike. To other whitebaiters in the area they give nothing … Read More

A heavy load to carry for native kōura

Waiology • Jul 19, 2013

• freshwater crayfish,
• Koura,
• native species

By Amber McEwan This winter, in a cold, clear stream near you, a certain freshwater crustacean has a heavy load to carry. The female New Zealand freshwater crayfish, or kōura, spends the winter months carrying large eggs (up to 200 of them!) attached to the underside of her abdomen. The eggs hatch after 3 or 4 months, but motherhood doesn’t … Read More

NIWA’s Citizen Snow Project: How deep is the snow at your place?

Waiology • Jun 20, 2013

• citizen science,
• Data,
• NIWA,
• snow

By Daniel Collins With the current storm crossing the country this week, NIWA has kicked off its Citizen Snow Project. The project seeks assistance from public at large to contribute to New Zealand’s snow science research by gathering snow measurements at home, in their neighbourhood, or wherever they may be. Snow measurements at NIWA’s Tekapo field office, … Read More

No water no problem for mudfish

Waiology • Jun 10, 2013

• conservation,
• fish,
• habitat loss,
• native species,
• wetlands

By Amber McEwan While we head for the indoors as the weather grows colder and wetter, a secretive, little eel-like fish is gearing up for its busiest time of year.Brown mudfish (Neochanna apoda).(Photo: Alton Perrie)The remarkable brown mudfish is one of five mudfish species that are all unique to New Zealand. They are small (up to around 15 cm), … Read More

Rhombosolea retiaria: The freshwater flounder

Waiology • May 30, 2013

• fish,
• native

By Amber McEwan In lakes, rivers and estuaries throughout New Zealand, groups of aquatic flying carpets are mobilising and moving downstream towards the sea. Late autumn marks the time when a special species of New Zealand flatfish – the freshwater black flounder or patiki – embarks upon a spawning migration to the sea, with juveniles re-entering freshwater and migrating back … Read More

A tale of two storms

Waiology • May 10, 2013

• Extreme events,
• Flooding,
• Natural hazards,
• Rainfall,
• Tasman District

By Martin Doyle The rainstorm near Nelson on 21 April, 2013, was one of the most intense ever measured in New Zealand, and caused considerable flooding through urban Stoke and Richmond. Just 18 months prior, another storm also caused significant damage to the same area. It would be tempting to draw parallels between the two storms, but in fact they … Read More

How to drought-proof New Zealand as droughts get worse

Waiology • May 03, 2013

• Adaptation,
• climate change,
• Drought,
• Water resources

By Daniel Collins For the most part, droughts are natural events. Rainfall and river flows wax and wane, and there will be times when there just isn’t enough water to fully meet our needs, whether to grow crops or to quench a city’s thirst. Wairarapa drought, February 2013. (Credit: D. Allen, NIWA)And when it comes down to it, … Read More

Reader feedback invited for Waiology

Waiology • Apr 09, 2013

• science communication

By Daniel Collins Waiology has been running for the better part of two years now, and has just completed a significant series on water governance. And as Waiology moves ahead, it would be very helpful to know what you think about the blog. Are you happy with the status quo? What’s good or not so good? How useful and … Read More

Water governance in New Zealand: A conclusion

Waiology • Apr 08, 2013

• collaboration,
• CWMS,
• NPSFM,
• policy,
• RMA,
• Water governance,
• water management,
• Water resources,
• WCO

By Daniel Collins When it comes to managing our freshwaters well, science can provide only part of the solution. It is important to appreciate how much water we have, what quality it is, and how our activities change these things – questions that only science can answer – but it is also important to appreciate what people want from … Read More

Collaborative water management delivers local solutions in north Canterbury

Waiology • Apr 04, 2013

• Canterbury,
• collaboration,
• CWMS,
• Water governance,
• Water storage

By David Eder and Ian Whitehouse In July 2013 the Hurunui-Waiau Zone Committee will notch up three years of work. It was set up as part of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy – a collaborative process for finding local solutions to water issues within an environmentally sustainable framework. In July 2010 the committee’s daunting task was … Read More