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Freshwater

Horizons works in partnership with the community to protect and enhance our region's waterways. These waterways are a vital resource; crucial to our economic, environmental, social and cultural wellbeing.

Through our regulatory and non-regulatory work programmes we aim to restore pride and mana in the region's waterways and ensure they are available for the enjoyment of future generations.

Oranga Wai | Our Freshwater Future

Oranga Wai | Our Freshwater Future was the way Horizons chose to represent our programme of work relating to the previous Government's Essential Freshwater package.

Following the current Government’s announcement to suspend all plan changes until the new Resource Management Act 1991 replacement legislation and review of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 come into force, we've paused progress on the Oranga Wai | Our Freshwater Future programme.

Find out more about Oranga Wai | Our Freshwater Future

Freshwater Fishes

In 2024, an expert panel of staff from Horizons, NIWA, the Department of Conservation, and the consultancy firm WSP completed a Regional Threat Classification Assessment of freshwater fishes in the Horizons Region. Under this assessment, nine native freshwater fish species are classified as Regionally Threatened, which means we risk losing these creatures from the Horizons Region altogether. The results can be found in the report below.

The Regional Threat Classification Assessment will enable Horizons to more effectively prioritise species protection, enhance habitats, and monitor populations in the future. Horizons, working alongside our communities, will continue to play a key role in tackling the primary drivers of species decline, which is critical to conserving these Regionally Threatened species.

Community Planting Days

If you’re interested in hosting a planting day on your property or joining in one of the many community planting days around the Region, contact the Freshwater Team on toll free 0508 800 800 for further info. Below you'll find our Community Guide to stream restoration using riparian planting, and our Riparian Planting for Bees pamphlet.

Riparian planting

Riparian zones can be used to maintain and improve water quality. Once fenced and planted, they filter nutrients, sediment and bacteria that leave the land as runoff. Healthy riparian zones will improve the health of your waterway.

Looking to carry out riparian fencing and planting? Check out our riparian planting guides. There's one for each ecological area. Funding assistance may also be available.

Whitebaiting regulations

Whitebait are juvenile native fish that live in our freshwater, made up of six species: īnanga, shortjaw kōkopu, giant kōkopu, banded kōkopu, kōaro, and common smelt.

Whitebaiting is a popular pastime for many throughout the region. New regulations, introduced by the Department of Conservation in 2021, will help reduce fishing pressure on our native fish. Following these regulations is an important part of ensuring the future of whitebait species.

Visit the Department of Conservation website to read the full regulations.

For more information on whitebait species and other native fish in our region, visit the Manawatū River website or the Department of Conservation website.