Tuna given a helping hand to migrate at Te Waihora
An idea hatched by Te Taumutu Rūnanga has helped tuna migrate from Te Waihora to the sea after some were becoming stranded due to the steepness of the beach crest. After approaching Environment Canterbury’s engineering team for a helping hand, a day of earthworks were carried out on 29 April to lower part of the beach crest and enlarge a naturally formed V-shaped invert in the lake-edge. This meant that the tuna had a shorter path to travel to sea by swimming in closer and wriggling a shorter distance. The earthworks will hopefully assist or replace a catch and release operation carried out by Te Taumutu Rūnanga representatives and local fishermen. Ensuring fish passage is a kaupapa that Environment Canterbury wants to support and this initiative with Te Taumutu Rūnanga has helped achieve that.
Work opportunities at Environment Canterbury
Rachel Puentener has joined David Perenara-O’Connell in the Tuia – Environment Canterbury Ngāi Tahu Relationship Team, moving from her role as tangata whenua facilitator in the Canterbury Water Management Team. Consequently Environment Canterbury is currently recruiting another Tangata Whenua Facilitator (working alongside Peter Ramsden) for the Water Strategy team. David is also recruiting for a Strategy Advisor in the Tuia team. These positions will be advertised on our website now or in the next week. You can view available positions at the following link. http://ecan.govt.nz/about-us/work-for-us/pages/current-vacancies.aspx. We would really encourage Ngāi Tahu members to apply for these exciting roles.
We are also very pleased to announce that Makarini Rupene (Ngāi Tūāhuriri) has been made a permanent member of staff as a park ranger based at Kaiapoi, looking after the Waimakariri Regional Park.
