Helping kids become champions for our eels

An education and action programme helping kids learn about their local waterways and how they can improve them to help eels/tuna has been a huge success.

Set up in 2018, Te Tuna Tāone Urban Eel, gets tamariki out of the classroom to their local waterway to learn about its health and the importance of eels/tuna.

It’s one of many initiatives that’s received support from the Council’s Community

Waterways Partnership Fund.

The fund supports collaborative, community scale projects that improve, protect & celebrate urban waterways in Ōtautahi and contribute to the work of the Community Waterways Partnership.

Applications are now open for the fund with the Council putting up $60,000 for the 2026/27 round.

Te Tuna Tāone Urban Eel facilitator Jenny Bond said getting funding from the council for her work has been vital.

“We get tamariki and kura out of the classroom and to their local urban waterway wherever that may be around the city.

“They learn about the health of their awa by looking at the clarity of the water, sediment runoff and counting the invertebrates which gives an overall picture of the health of the river.”

Jenny sets up bait to try and attract eels the night before so the children can meet their local tuna.

“We explain how the health of the waterways is vital for the tuna which is a native species that is at risk due to river pollution and climate change".

“Our main issues are sediment runoff and stormwater which runs directly into local waterways so if we teach children how to care for their local waterways that can in turn have positive impacts on the tuna.”

After exploring outside, the education programme returns to the classroom where tamariki come up with their own ideas on how to improve stream health.

“We’ve had children design brochures with information that they’ve given to local residents and businesses, some have created children’s books or organised rubbish cleanups and one school even put on a play about a local stream.”

Jenny said longfin tuna are a keystone species and if a waterway doesn’t have them – it’s not healthy.

“The river starts in your stormwater gutters so if you keep your gutters clean, free of litter, dirt and leaves that will really help our rivers.”

Council Community Waterways Advisor Georgina St John-Ives said the fund is designed to support projects that make a practical difference.

“We're looking for projects that help improve, protect or celebrate Christchurch's urban waterways and encourage people to become involved in caring for them.

“We encourage schools, community groups, environmental organisations and others with great ideas to apply. We know local communities care deeply about our waterways and want to protect them, and we're excited to support collaborative projects that turn that passion into action.”

Applications for the Community Waterways Partnership Fund close on the 18th September. 

Read more and apply for the fund here.