Waikato Freshwater Project Wins National Award for Protecting Taonga Tuna Species

A Waikato environmental project dedicated to the safe passage of native tuna has secured its second major national accolade this year. As reported by Waatea News on Sunday, 18 October 2026, the Waikato Regional Council’s initiative, Ngā Rerenga ki te Moana | Pathways to the Sea, was presented with the environmental stewardship honour at the 2026 SuperLocal Awards hosted by Local Government New Zealand. The project addresses a long-standing issue where traditional flood protection infrastructure posed significant risks to indigenous fish during their downstream migration. Through a six-year collaboration involving iwi, mana whenua, and international engineering specialists, the council has implemented technologies that allow tuna to navigate through pump stations safely. Council chair Warren Maher noted that the programme proves community protection and ecosystem restoration can be achieved simultaneously. Technical trials of the fish-friendly pumps and gravity bypass systems have shown remarkable success, with safe passage rates reaching between 74 percent and 100 percent depending on the site. At peak times, the infrastructure has enabled more than a tonne of tuna to move safely toward the sea in a single migration season. These results are particularly significant for Māori, as tuna are a taonga species central to mahinga kai, whakapapa, and the overall health of regional waterways. The council highlighted the vital contributions of Waikato-Tainui and the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development in shaping the strategy. By integrating mātauranga Māori with modern engineering, the project has produced over 20 technical reports that are now attracting interest from infrastructure operators worldwide. This latest win follows the project’s Supreme Award victory at the LGFA Taituarā Local Government Excellence Awards in June, further cementing its role as a leading model for environmental management in Aotearoa.