title: Electrofishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: A previous fish community survey carried out in the Whangamarino Wetland system recorded 18 different fish species by netting, electrofishing, and interviews with local eel fishermen and reports from Acclimatisation Society staff (Strickland, 1980). Strickland reported that the most widespread and common species in the wetland were shortfinned eels, mosquitofish, goldfish and catfish. In August 2007 and March 2008, the Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research (CBER) were contracted to carry out an electric fishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland and its tributaries. Boat and backpack electrofishing caught a diverse range of native and introduced fish. A total of 1,491 fish comprising 8 native fish species and 5 introduced fish species were caught in a total fished area of 26,600 m2 or 2.66 ha from a total of 34 sites. Koi carp, shortfinned eels, goldfish and common smelt were the most widespread fish species throughout the wetland system. Fish distribution, density and biomass varied between sites throughout the Whangamarino Wetland as well as between the two different time periods (August 2007 and March 2008). Mean densities and biomasses of fish species at most sites increased substantially in March 2008 compared to August 2007.

text: Electrofishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland A previous fish community survey carried out in the Whangamarino Wetland system recorded 18 different fish species by netting, electrofishing, and interviews with local eel fishermen and reports from Acclimatisation Society staff (Strickland, 1980). Strickland reported that the most widespread and common species in the wetland were shortfinned eels, mosquitofish, goldfish and catfish. In August 2007 and March 2008, the Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research (CBER) were contracted to carry out an electric fishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland and its tributaries. Boat and backpack electrofishing caught a diverse range of native and introduced fish. A total of 1,491 fish comprising 8 native fish species and 5 introduced fish species were caught in a total fished area of 26,600 m2 or 2.66 ha from a total of 34 sites. Koi carp, shortfinned eels, goldfish and common smelt were the most widespread fish species throughout the wetland system. Fish distribution, density and biomass varied between sites throughout the Whangamarino Wetland as well as between the two different time periods (August 2007 and March 2008). Mean densities and biomasses of fish species at most sites increased substantially in March 2008 compared to August 2007.

year: 2008-07-14

title: The effects of wood on stream habitat and native fish assemblages in New Zealand

authors: Baillie, Brenda Robin

subjects: wood

abstract: Historic deforestation has deprived many river systems of their natural wood loadings. To study the effects of the loss of wood from waterways, a field trial was conducted in three small forested streams in New Zealand. The objectives were to (i) examine differences in fish assemblages among wooded pools (where wood provided cover), open pools and riffles and (ii) measure the effects of wood removal on channel morphology and fish assemblages. In the first part of the study, no significant differences were found in total fish density among the three habitats. However, total fish biomass was significantly higher in wooded pools (64% of total fish biomass) compared with open pools and riffles. Mean density and biomass of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) and mean biomass of longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) were highest in wooded pools, whereas the density and biomass of bluegill bully (Gobiomorphus hubbsi) and torrentfish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri) were highest in riffles. In the second part of the study, wood was removed from a 200-m section (treatment) in each stream, significantly reducing pool area and increasing the proportion of channel area and length in riffles. At the habitat scale, banded kokopu and large longfin eel were the two species mostly affected by wood removal. At the reach scale, banded kokopu biomass was significantly lower in the treatment sections. Although wooded pools were a small portion of total habitat, they provided important habitat for two of New Zealand's larger native fish taxa.

text: The effects of wood on stream habitat and native fish assemblages in New Zealand Historic deforestation has deprived many river systems of their natural wood loadings. To study the effects of the loss of wood from waterways, a field trial was conducted in three small forested streams in New Zealand. The objectives were to (i) examine differences in fish assemblages among wooded pools (where wood provided cover), open pools and riffles and (ii) measure the effects of wood removal on channel morphology and fish assemblages. In the first part of the study, no significant differences were found in total fish density among the three habitats. However, total fish biomass was significantly higher in wooded pools (64% of total fish biomass) compared with open pools and riffles. Mean density and biomass of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) and mean biomass of longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) were highest in wooded pools, whereas the density and biomass of bluegill bully (Gobiomorphus hubbsi) and torrentfish (Cheimarrichthys fosteri) were highest in riffles. In the second part of the study, wood was removed from a 200-m section (treatment) in each stream, significantly reducing pool area and increasing the proportion of channel area and length in riffles. At the habitat scale, banded kokopu and large longfin eel were the two species mostly affected by wood removal. At the reach scale, banded kokopu biomass was significantly lower in the treatment sections. Although wooded pools were a small portion of total habitat, they provided important habitat for two of New Zealand's larger native fish taxa.

year: 2013

title: Sylvia’s place: Ashton-Warner as New Zealand educational theorist.

authors: Middleton, Sue

subjects: educational theorist

abstract: Sylvia Ashton-Warner’s New Zealand educational context has been – and continues to be – misrepresented as antithetical to her creative methods. Sue Middleton, a professor of education, locates Sylvia’s educational ideas within the national and international Progressive Education movement, indicating that key education officials in post-war New Zealand encouraged creativity and self-expression.

This chapter makes the case that, as a teacher, an educational writer and theorist, Sylvia Ashton-Warner grew in, and not in spite of New Zealand. My argument unfolds in two parts. The first reviews theoretical ideas in the local and international educational environment in which Sylvia lived and worked. Sylvia and Keith Henderson taught in what was referred to until 1946 as the Native School system (and from 1948 until its abolition in 1968 as the Maori Scholl system). They trained and began work as teachers during the Great Depression; and Sylvia began serious writing during World War Two. The war and the Native Scholl system interested in complex ways with the wider international Progressive Education movement and its promotion ‘from the top’ in New Zealand’s public schools. An overview of Progressive (or New ) Education, the changing theories of culture and race in the Native School system, and relations between these during World War Two, opens a wide-angled aperture through which to read Sylvia’s early writing.

text: Sylvia’s place: Ashton-Warner as New Zealand educational theorist. Sylvia Ashton-Warner’s New Zealand educational context has been – and continues to be – misrepresented as antithetical to her creative methods. Sue Middleton, a professor of education, locates Sylvia’s educational ideas within the national and international Progressive Education movement, indicating that key education officials in post-war New Zealand encouraged creativity and self-expression.

This chapter makes the case that, as a teacher, an educational writer and theorist, Sylvia Ashton-Warner grew in, and not in spite of New Zealand. My argument unfolds in two parts. The first reviews theoretical ideas in the local and international educational environment in which Sylvia lived and worked. Sylvia and Keith Henderson taught in what was referred to until 1946 as the Native School system (and from 1948 until its abolition in 1968 as the Maori Scholl system). They trained and began work as teachers during the Great Depression; and Sylvia began serious writing during World War Two. The war and the Native Scholl system interested in complex ways with the wider international Progressive Education movement and its promotion ‘from the top’ in New Zealand’s public schools. An overview of Progressive (or New ) Education, the changing theories of culture and race in the Native School system, and relations between these during World War Two, opens a wide-angled aperture through which to read Sylvia’s early writing.

year: 2009