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. When they encountered overfished waterways or those ravaged by floods, they would replenish them with kōura from nearby streams, nurturing the delicate balance of their ecosystem.
A beautifully written article in the New Zealand Geographic (featuring Fish Futures’ Aisling Rayne, Ian Kusabs, Angus McIntosh, and Jane Kitson) introduces us to this unique species and tells some fascinating stories about its past, present, and possible future.