Events Calendar

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About

Ngā Rerenga ki te Moana | Pathways to the Sea is the culmination of Waikato Regional Council’s transformational research programme to provide safe downstream passage for tuna (eels) and other native fish through flood protection infrastructure. With more pump stations than any other council in Aotearoa New Zealand (124), we have a unique responsibility to reconcile historic flood management assets with contemporary environmental expectations.

Many pump stations were constructed decades ago, and with little consideration for ecological impacts. These pump stations prevent safe downstream migration of fish species and can cause a significant level of injury and mortality for our long-lived native tuna (eels), of up to 100%. Co-funded by 14 partners from 2019 to 2025, the research included testing fish‑friendly solutions, including new fish friendly pump technologies, gravity bypasses, electrical deterrents, trap‑and‑transfer operations and catchment prioritisation. These research streams and the results will be presented during the webinar.

Approved in 2025, the Pathways to the Sea Strategy was compiled based on all the research which establishes a framework to improve fish passage at all Waikato Regional Council flood protection infrastructure over coming decades. The strategy provides a structured approach that aligns environmental improvement with long-term renewal cycles, ensuring ecological gains are delivered in a financially sustainable manner.

Presenter: Alicia Williams, Senior Freshwater Ecologist, Waikato Regional Council