Freshwater Stream Study
NCEA AS 91601
Carry out a practical investigation in a biological context with guidance.
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The State of our Rivers

  • Run-off has severely impacted our rivers and lakes. Over the past 20 years fertiliser use increased 800%.
  • NZ maintains a top 10 position for nitrate levels amongst OECD countries.
  • Nearly half our monitored lakes are so polluted they by nutrients they are classed as 'eutrophic' which means they contain more nutrients than they can cope with.
  • Most of our harbours are choked with sediment
  • Most of our lowland rivers don't meet standards for bathing.
  • Demands for rising irrigation needed for intensive dairy farming can reduce river flow to a trickle - making most life in these river unsustainable.
  • 15 large hydro-dams have been built on our rivers and tributaries, displacing their freshwater inhabitants and disrupting the natural flows.

Monitoring Streams

The State of Canterbury’s freshwater streams have been monitored for over 25 years by organisations like Environmental Canterbury, LAWA, NIWA and Regional councils. The analysis of their data shows that there are more sites in Canterbury that have improving trends than declining trends. However, there are still some areas of concern w.r.t. certain attributes:
  • Total Nitrogen – 52% of sites improving, 33% degrading
  • Dissolved inorganic nitrogen -59% improving, 24% degrading
  • Tubridy – 30% of sites increasing, 45% degrading
  • E-coli – 47% of sites increasing, 38% declining
 While it is encouraging to see an overall pattern of improving fresh water quality, and we still have work to do, there is plenty going on to protect and improve fresh water quality.

Research and Data Collection

 NIWA
NIWA's mission is to conduct leading environmental science to enable the sustainable management of natural resources for New Zealand and the planet.
it is committed to honouring the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.

The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA) is one of New Zealand's leading environmental science and applied research service provider, specialising in atmospheric, freshwater and marine research. They work at the forefront of some of the most critical environmental issues facing the planet, and their staff are recognised as international experts in their fields.

LANDCARE RESEARCH MANAAKI TANGATA

Manaaki tangata (Care for the land – Care for the people). Our Māori name means to care for the land in the sense that the environment is inextricably linked to economic, societal and cultural well-being. Māori are tangata whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, with whom we consult and collaborate.