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Kia ora and welcome to our final issue for 2025.
Thank you for being a reader this year, we hope you have a safe and happy holiday break and get to spend some quality time with friends and whānau.
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Get set for summer safety
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ORC’s Harbourmaster team will be splitting their time between coastal Otago and Central Otago’s lakes and rivers to make sure everyone gets home safe after a day of fun.
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Safer boating
Be a responsible skipper – know the boating safety code and make sure safety is your first priority when you’re out on the water.
If in doubt, don’t go out.
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Highlander Jona Nareki gives ORC Harbourmaster Steve the thumbs up for summer safety on the water
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Toxic algae at Falls Dam, Central Otago
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Swim smart
Keep your family and pets safe around water this summer — find out about water quality in your swim spots with swim smart tips and toxic algae warnings.
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Protect Our Paradise
While on the sea, learn how to Protect Our Paradise and stop marine pests before they spread — it’s the best way to protect our waters.
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Mediterranean fanworm
PHOTO: NORTHLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL
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ORC’s new Check, Clean, Dry ambassadors, Zoe (left) and George
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Meet ORC’s new freshwater ambassadors
Zoe Eckhoff and George Mclellan will be visiting lakes and rivers in Central Otago this summer engaging with the community about protecting our waterways.
They are promoting the Check, Clean, Dry method to prevent the spread of freshwater pests, such as lagarosiphon and didymo.
When enjoying Otago’s waterways, remember to check, clean, and thoroughly dry all gear every trip to help keep our lakes and rivers healthy.
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Give a gift to the environment this Christmas
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Whether you’re at the beach, river side, on the lake, or cooling off in a backyard paddling pool, you can do your bit to protect and enhance Otago’s environment this summer.
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Wilding conifers are a serious pest issue. When you are out and about hunting, hiking or just enjoying the outdoors, you can help by pulling out small wilding conifer seedlings.
Don’t know your conifer from your corona? Check out this ID guide.
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If you see a wallaby, dead or alive, report it to reportwallabies.nz — help stop the spread of this unwanted Australian import.
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Spot pollution? Call our 24/7 hotline 0800 800 033 and try to take a photo — it might be needed for evidence later.
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Ban the clam! Be on the lookout for exotic freshwater clam — a pest that may be trying to hitchhike its way down the country.
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Top up your Bee Card and use public transport in 10 regions around New Zealand these holidays — even on the Queenstown ferry!
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Let sleeping sea lions lie — our wildlife is on hols too!
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Mac and her human, Charly, who works in our Environmental Implementation team
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The holidays are a great time to share nature with your dog. Here are some tips to make sure your walk doesn’t come with a squawk:
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Know before you go — check the rules before heading out. Not all beaches or wild areas allow dogs (check with your local council or the Department of Conversation), so make sure you know where you can and can’t walk them.
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A wildlife scan makes a good game plan — check what’s in the area so you are prepared and can plan where you will walk.
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A toy is a great decoy — keep your dog focused on playing with you so they are less likely to want to play with wildlife.
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Walk on the wet sand — staying on the wet sand keeps you further away from the dunes where many shorebirds will have vulnerable nests. In forested areas, stick to trails.
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Lead in hand — it’s a legal requirement to carry a lead when your dog is in public. Have it handy in case you need close control while you walk past a distraction.
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Keep at least 20 metres away from coastal creatures — this is the recommended distance to ensure your dog and the wildlife remain safe.
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Keep your dog safe — do you know what toxic algae looks like? Blooms can occur in hot weather around lakes and rivers and are dangerous to dogs.
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Check for pest control operations in the area. Look out for signs on public walking tracks to warn if toxins are being used.
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Wildlife like kororā / little blue penguins nest around our beaches and under buildings (especially in Ōamaru). Dogs are one of the greatest threats to penguins and other shorebirds.
PHOTO: SHELLY OGLE
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Pakake / NZ sea lion. Observe these gorgeous giants from a distance of 20 metres.
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Workers prepping for a day of wilding pine removal above Wānaka
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The Upper Clutha Wilding Tree Group has had a great year bumping off wildings in both large-scale control operations and volunteer working bees.
Formed in 2022, the group focuses on controlling this fast-spreading, environmentally damaging pest plant in the upper Clutha. Thanks to them, 7,302 wilding conifers were removed across 689 hectares — we’re proud to support this work.
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Wilding pines pose a huge threat to our native biodiversity
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Getting into the hard-to-reach places helps stop the spread
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New safety rules proposed for Otago boaties
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Te Awa Ōtākou / Otago Harbour
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New rules and regulations governing navigational safety could be on the way for Otago’s waterways, with the opportunity for public input on a draft new bylaw expected early next year.
The previous Otago Regional Council Navigational Safety Bylaw, dating back to 2020, is being reviewed, with revised rules and regulations expected to be in place by April following public feedback.
The bylaw contains rules and regulations for the movement of boats and vessels on the Otago Harbour, and in the Otago region (except Queenstown Lakes including lakes Wānaka and Hāwea). It is in place to ensure public safety on waterways and encourage safer boating.
Otago Regional Council has a responsibility to manage maritime safety under the Maritime Transport Act 1994. Otago Regional Council Harbourmaster Steve Rushbrook says some changes will be proposed, but aspects such as boat speed limits in certain areas and the need to always wear lifejackets will remain unchanged.
We’ll share more information about the proposed changes and how to give feedback in the new year.
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Why is it a pest?
Purple loosestrife is a highly invasive perennial herb that outcompetes native vegetation, disrupts water flow and can degrade habitats for wildlife, particularly wetland birds.
This plant can block access to waterways, impact irrigation systems and reduce the quality of hay and pasture due to its unpalatable nature.
What does it look like?
Size: Purple Loosestrife can grow up to three metres tall.
Leaves: Narrow, opposite, and less than 12 centimetres long.
Flowers/seeds: Tall, dense spikes of purple or pink flowers that bloom from December to February. A single plant can produce 2.5 million small, blackish seed capsules each year.
Root system: A thick, central taproot anchors the plant deeply in the soil with many smaller fibrous side roots spreading outward near the surface that form thick mats. These dense root systems can send up dozens of tall stems from a single base, helping the plant spread and crowding out other vegetation.
Habitat: It thrives in wet or damp soils, often in still or slow-moving water bodies, wetlands, riverbanks, lake shores and drainage systems.
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What should I do?
Early detection helps prevent its spread and reduce the cost of control. If you think you've seen purple loosestrife, please notify Otago Regional Council:
Learn more about how to spot purple loosestrife on our Pest Hub
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Alpine lakes in the limelight
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From left: Queenstown Lakes District Council Mayor John Glover, Wai Wānaka Board Chair John Rodwell, Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou Upoko Edward Ellison, ORC Chief Executive Richard Saunders, and Professor Ross Thompson from the University of Otago.
PHOTO: NAT SYMONDS, RUN IN THE SHADOWS PHOTOGRAPHY
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Otago’s iconic deep alpine lakes were the focus of the 2025 Alpine Lakes Forum in Wānaka recently.
The science event brought together the community, mana whenua, scientists and experts to explore the health and future of Otago’s deep lakes and alpine freshwater ecosystems.
ORC scientists and staff were among those presenting at the event — a collaboration led by Wai Wānaka, supported by ORC, Te Rūnaka o Ōtākou and the University of Otago / Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
Otago’s deep alpine lakes are among the most iconic in the Southern Hemisphere, but they are also fragile ecosystems facing increasing pressure from land use, invasive pests, urban growth and climate change.
By sharing knowledge, research and practical action, the forum aimed to deepen our collective understanding of these treasured waters and strengthen the partnerships needed to protect them.
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ORC Catchment Advisor Sky teaches people how to identify stream invertebrates
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ORC was out talking to the locals at the South Otago A&P Show in Balclutha.
More than 250 people of all ages visited our stall, where they learned how to spot and report Bennett’s wallabies, identified bugs in water and learned what they tell us about stream health.
People could also learn how to spot pest plants, discuss natural hazards and adaptation, find out about our Lower Clutha flood protection and drainage scheme and river programmes, and get tips on preparing an emergency kit at home. Janine the goat was named ‘pest detective extraordinaire’.
Thanks, South Otago — we’ll be back!
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Janine the goat, best in show
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Waikouaiti School stream health
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A big shoutout to Waikouaiti School for participating in a stream health education programme over the past few months, co-run by Polly, a Catchment Advisor at Otago Regional Council, and Jennie from Enviroschools.
They began by exploring what a catchment is with the Enviroscape model, connecting tamariki with their local awa, lagoon, and the sea. Students then learned how to do bird counts as a way of monitoring the health of their place.
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ORC Catchment Advisor Polly helping to run the programme
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A hīkoi took the school to the top of their catchment to find the source of their stream, with stream health activities including checking for macroinvertebrates, testing water clarity, temperature and eDNA, and pulling in fish and eel nets.
Lastly, the pupils learned about stormwater and the effects of pollutants, adopting a drain at their school.
Cheers to Waikouaiti School and to the tamariki for being great nature learners: curious, knowledgeable and all-in.
The sessions were delivered with input by staff from Enviroschools, ORC, Dunedin City Council, Puketeraki Rūnaka, East Otago Catchment Group and Otago Catchment Community.
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Walking to the source of Waipaku – Post Office Creek
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C is for … catchment
A catchment (watershed) is the area of land where all rain and runoff flow through the landscape and waterways to a shared outlet — from the headwaters down to the sea or a lake.
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Groundwater is at the heart of Otago — supplying homes, supporting local farming and businesses, and feeding the springs and streams that keep our environment thriving.
To manage this vital resource well, ORC maintains a bore database, but many older bores aren’t accurately recorded or in the database at all. You can search for information on bores in Otago in the WellsNZ database.
To improve the information we have on record, we’re offering free bore checks across Otago. ORC staff or a contractor can visit your property to confirm whether you have a bore and update its details. This isn’t a compliance check and won’t result in anyone needing a retrospective consent. It’s simply about building a clearer picture of the region’s groundwater.
Having accurate bore information helps ORC better protect your water take by making sure it’s considered when nearby applications for water use or land-based discharges — like septic tanks or effluent spreading — are assessed.
During a visit, we’ll record GPS coordinates, take photos, check bore depth and condition, measure water levels where safe and even offer tips on bore security. If you’re willing to help, please register your interest.
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Joining forces to tackle wallabies
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This team of Kiwis were talking game plans to tackle wallabies in Otago and Canterbury. Inset: a Bennett’s wallaby.
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Contractors carrying out Bennett’s wallaby control in Otago and Canterbury came together for the first inter-regional meeting in Waimate last month. They work in rain, snow, with dogs, by helicopter, piloting a drone – the front line combating this pest.
The purpose of the forum was to talk about progress so far and next steps for eliminating Bennett’s wallaby, facilitate knowledge sharing and increase communication across our contractor network.
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Our customer services will close on Tuesday, 23 December, at 5pm, and reopen on Monday, 5 January 2026.
If you see pollution during the holiday period, please call our 24/7 pollution hotline on 0800 800 033 straight away.
Orbus public buses over the holidays
Stay out of trouble – take an Orbus bus home from your Christmas party. Check out our Dunedin and Queenstown bus timetables.
Orbus Dunedin bus services will NOT run on Christmas Day (Thursday, 25 December), and will run on the public holiday timetable, which is the same as a Sunday timetable, on:
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Boxing Day — Friday, 26 December
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New Years Day — Thursday, 1 January
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Day after New Years Day — Friday, 2 January.
Orbus Queenstown bus services will also NOT run on Christmas Day, but for all other public holidays over the Christmas period, the Queenstown service runs to the normal timetable.
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Find out about upcoming community events and Council meetings here.
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Feel free to forward this email to anyone who might like to read it. If you have any story ideas or want to know anything specific about anything in this issue, let us know by emailing onstream@orc.govt.nz
If you have been forwarded this email, you can sign up here.
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