Thanks to collaborative support from NZ Landcare Trust our online kete for our Drains are Streams project now contains amazing education materials about ika taketake (native fish). These resources are available in both te reo Māori and English and are a very useful resource for classrooms and workshops for catchment groups.
“76% of our native fish are endangered here in Aotearoa,” says Natalie Jessup, General Manager, Tāngaro Tuia te Ora, the Endangered Species Foundation. “Many people can name our most endangered birds, but very few people are familiar with our freshwater fish species. These resources and our "Awhi Awa | Embrace a Stream" action packs aim to change this.”
The Drains are Stream initiative educates people about our native freshwater fish, and what they can do to restore their habitats, particularly in urban areas where a huge amount of pollution comes from residential and commercial activities.
NZ Landcare Trust is delighted our native fish factsheets are finding new audiences via the important work of the Tāngaro Tuia te Ora, the Endangered Species Foundation," says Nardene Berry, NZ Landcare Trust Waikato Regional Coordinator. "These factsheets were developed to raise awareness of our unique native fish, and identify the actions we can take to protect and enhance our local streams, for people living both rurally and in urban centres".
The new bi-lingual resources include:
Ngā ika wai māori - Our freshwater fish
Ngā ika taketake me ō rātau taiao – Native fish in the landscape and where they can be found
Ngā mahinga kōawa hei painga mō te ika – How to create fish friendly streams
Te ika taketake i te tāone - Native fish in the city
Te ika taketake (Native Fish) ID Challenge - a fun, interactive challenge where tamariki can test their knowledge by matching native fish images with their correct te reo Māori and English names.
Awhi Awa – Embrace a Stream!
You can awhi an awa and purchase an educational kete (pack) complete with metal ika (fish) signage to learn more about our endangered freshwater fish and how to restore waterways: