Mangakotukutuku Stream Care Group
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Mangakotukutuku Stream Care Group |
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What's new? |
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| What's new? Why is the stream important? What threatens the stream? What can you do to help? About the group Want to register your interest? |
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Group features in urban stream surveyA recent survey has highlighted the Mangakotukutuku Stream Care Group as being recognised by over 10% of Hamilton City residents living next to gully streams. Read the full report...Thesis on restoring Giant kokopuGroup member and University of Waikato student Brenda Aldridge recently completed her M.Sc. thesis entitled "Restoring giant kokopu (Galaxias argenteus) populations in Hamilton urban streams". Two of Brenda's 10 sites were on the Mangakotukutuku Stream, and she introduced farm-reared juvenile kokopu to one of these sites. She monitored these fish regularly and found that some of the introduced fish stayed around for at least 11 months at this site, the longest of any of the streams she looked at around Hamilton.Tainui River claim presentationThe group was represented at the recent Tainui river claim presentation at Hopuhopu on 24 January 2008. As the Mangakotukutuku is a tributary of the Waikato River comes under this claim (click here to learn more about the claim). Thanks to Tainui for their hospitality.Stream part of restoration studyThe Mangakotukutuku Stream has been included in a NIWA study of methods to restore stream insect life at sites that are too far away from healthy streams to be naturally recolonised. Habitat for caddisflies to form pupae on was introduced into the healthy Peacockes branch and then transferred to other sites in the catchment to see if the pupae develop into adult insects.Diverse adult insect faunaA recent report completed by NIWA has further highlighted the biodiversity value of Mangakotukutuku Stream. The study found that sites sampled in this catchment had higher average diversity of adult mayflies and caddisflies than the other main stream catchments in Hamilton City. Read the report..."Albino" eel seenWe recently had a report of an "albino" eel in the Peacockes branch of Mangakotukutuku Stream. Eels with this light coloration, often more yellow than white, are seen from time to time. Tradition has it that these eels lead other adult eels to sea for spawning.Submission on the Peacockes Structure PlanThe group has made a submission to the city council on the Peacockes Structure Plan. The land surrounding the Peacockes branch of Mangakotukutuku Stream is designated for future development which could well compromise the high ecological values of this stream unless it is managed appropriately. Read our submission...Restoration opportunity analysisWayne Teal, a GIS student from the Geography Department at the University of Waikato, has done an analysis to help identify potential sites for restoration in the Mangakotukutuku catchment. See a copy of Wayne's posterTainui River claim presentationThe group was represented at the recent Tainui river claim presentation at Hopuhopu. As the Mangakotukutuku is a tributary of the Waikato River comes under this claim (click here to learn more about the claim). Thanks to Tainui for their hospitality and we look forward to hearing about further developments.Submission on HCC annual planThe group has made a submission on the City Council's annual plan in an effort to increase awareness of the City's streams, promote improved management. Read our submission...More giant kokopu!During a recent visit to Ian and Elaine's gully in the Peacockes area, some group members were lucky enough to spot-light some giant kokopu - they were living in a small clearwater seepage stream away from the main part of the stream where some big long-finned eels were seen. Another small tributary in Sandford Park has become one of the first sites ever to have giant kokopu introduced. This was done by Brenda Aldridge as part of her MSc thesis to look at ways of enhancing habitat for giant kokopu in Hamilton urban streams.Giant New Zealand dragonfly foundThe giant New Zeland dragonfly Uropetala carovei has been found in the Mangakotukutuku catchment. Click here to see a photo. Find out more.....Restoring fish habitatMember of this streamcare group and University of Waikato Masters student Brenda Aldridge has been working to find out ways of restoring habitat for native fish within Hamilton City gully streams, including the Mangakotukutuku. Ponga logs and clay pipes will be added to streams to determine habitat preferences by native fish species (see photo). Juveniles of the threatened giant kokopu will be stocked into the stream to find out how they use this new habitat.Front page newsThe Hamilton Press recently ran a front page article on the stream care group. Click here to see this article.Kowhai Community Group Award
The Mangakotukutuku Stream Care Group has been awarded the 2006 Kowhai
Community Group Award for its contribution to community conservation.
The award was made by the City Council at the Hamilton Yacht Club on 4
December. |
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