Panoramic view of braided river in New Zealand
Photo Credit | Angus McIntosh ©

Reimagining freshwater ecosystem management in Aotearoa

Our mission is to drive change towards holistic and just freshwater fish management in Aotearoa.

Vision

Our vision is for decisions about freshwater fish to be made in partnership with Māori, be informed by community values, and account for the effects of climate change and ecosystem dynamics as they interact to shape what fish will live and thrive in our waterways. Fish Futures draws together indigenous and pākehā voices with freshwater science and management through:
  • Kōura in the spotlight

    For Māori, relocating kōura (freshwater crayfish) wasn’t just about boosting their food supply; it was an act of kaitiakitanga—stewardship over the land and its species....
    29 October, 2024
  • Fish Futures Early Career Rōpū update

    The Early Career Rōpū recently held a two-day retreat in Christchurch which was packed with writing, presentations, workshops, and of course great company! Aisling Rayne,...
    23 October, 2024
  • scientists gathering information in highcountry stream

    How we're working together

    Our research embraces a transdisciplinary and co-production approach to generating knowledge with our research partners.

    Working with partners in three areas our research addresses key issues in local freshwater fish management. Through the translation of research findings to a national scale, we will leverage change nationally.

    Our approach aims to foster local relationships, empower fish managers, enhance the mana of kaitiaki, and help bring traditional knowledge systems together with science on a level field to generate new knowledge that will improve freshwater ecosystems and the lives of people living within them.

    Team

    Our team bring a unique balance of strengths in freshwater fish ecology, Māori cultural research, environmental social science, and freshwater policy.

    Joanne Clapcott

    Programme Co-Leader

    Marc Tadaki

    Programme Co-Leader

    Jane Kitson

    Programme Co-Leader

    Robin Holmes

    Programme Co-Leader

    Adam Frimel

    MSc candidate

    Ailsa Cain

    Cultural Heritage
    Ailsa Cain

    Aisling Rayne

    Social Scientist
    Aisling Rayne

    Alexis Farr

    PhD candidate
    Alexis Farr

    Alaric McCarthy

    Socio-ecological Scientist
    Alaric McCarthy

    Angus McIntosh

    Freshwater Ecologist
    Angus McIntosh

    Calum MacNeil 

    Freshwater Ecologist
    Calum MacNeil

    Carly O’Connor

    Freshwater Fisheries
    Carly connor

    Dave Allen

    Videographer / Photographer

    Edward Challies

    Human Geographer
    Ed Challies

    Finnbar Lee

    Freshwater Ecologist
    Finn Lee

    Gladys Henderson

    Management Systems
    Gladys Henderson

    Ian Kusabs

    Freshwater Fisheries
    Ian Kusabs

    James Brasington

    Fluvial Geomorphologist
    James Brasington

    Jason Arnold

    Biocultural Adviser
    Jason Arnold

    Jonathan Tonkin

    Freshwater Ecologist
    Jonathon Tonkin

    Justin Rogers

    Geomorphologist & Modeller
    Justin rogers

    Kati Doehring

    Science Communicator | Freshwater Ecologist

    Kiely McFarlane

    Social Scientist
    Kiely McFarlane

    Lauren Hitt

    PhD candidate
    Lauren Hitt

    Leah Gibbs 

    Social & Cultural Geographer
    Leah Gibbs

    Martha Jolly

    PhD candidate
    Martha Jolly

    Mckayla Holloway

    Science Communicator
    McKayla Holloway

    Naomi Heller

    PhD candidate
    Naomi Heller

    Nicholas Reo

    Indigenous Studies
    Nicholas Reo

    Nixie Boddy

    Freshwater Scientist

    Olivier Raven

    PhD candidate

    Pascale Otis

    Videographer / Producer
    Pascale Otis

    Rodrigo Gomez-Fell

    Geospatial Remote Sensing Scienctist

    Sarah Crowley

    Animal Geographer
    Sarah Crowley

    Simon Stewart

    Freshwater Ecologist
    Simon Stewart

    Soweeta Fort-D’ath

    Iwi advisor

    Vanessa Tipoki

    Freshwater Fisheries

    Yvonne Vadeboncoeur

    Freshwater Scientist
    Yvonne Vadeboncoer

    Partners