Fish Future’s programme co-leader Dr Jane Kitson together with Te Wai Māori (The Māori Freshwater Fisheries Trust) highlight in this article published in The Spinoff the urgent need for iwi and hapū to collaborate in safeguarding freshwater ecosystems and the native eel, or tuna, which are considered taonga (treasures) in Māori culture.
Recent mass die-offs of tuna across Aotearoa, including incidents in Auckland, Southland, and Northland, have underscored the declining health of these waterways and the species that inhabit them.
The article advocates for a holistic approach that combines environmental science with Māori values and leadership to ensure the survival of tuna and the health of New Zealand’s freshwater ecosystems.