Since autumn, kanakana/lamprey, have been migrating up the awa in Murihiku. Unfortunately over the past three years this tasty taonga has been found sick, with red skin markings (bruising/haemorrhaging), otherwise known as Lamprey Reddening Syndrome.

This year the rūnaka have been monitoring kanakana within our takiwā, with particular focus on the Aparima River. There has also been monitoring on the Waiau, where we have received help from a local.
While monitoring the Aparima River, we have discovered not only kanakana (one being a pouched adult male) but also bullies, freshwater prawns, pātiki/flounder, tuna, smelt, trout, a mallard duck (which got away) and a stoat (which didn’t get away). [Read more…]