Key Takeaways
- Thousands of eels and other aquatic organisms were found dead or dying in the dried‑up bed of Pukepuke Lagoon, prompting an urgent investigation.
- Rangitāne o Manawatū Settlement Trust describes the scene as unprecedented and calls for an iwi‑led inquiry, while welcoming technical support from external agencies.
- Local leaders cite long‑term groundwater extraction, drainage for agriculture, and extreme weather as likely contributors to the lagoon’s desiccation.
- Horizons Regional Council, Manawatū District Council and the Department of Conservation are participating in the fact‑finding effort, noting that water shortage—not historic poor water quality—appears to be the primary issue.
- A community‑driven response, including a rahui, karakia, and fish‑salvage operation, has been mobilised, and public access to the lagoon is now restricted to those involved in investigation or recovery work.
- Historical records show the lagoon has shrunk from roughly 162 hectares before European settlement to about 15 hectares today, reflecting a century of drainage for farming.
- Protecting the lagoon’s taonga species and restoring its ecological function require collaborative governance that centres iwi mana and traditional knowledge.
Incident Discovery at Pukepuke Lagoon
On Thursday, Horizons Regional Council staff reported that the lakebed of Pukepuke Lagoon, situated between the Manawatū townships of Himatangi and Tangimoana, had dried out completely, leaving thousands of eels (tuna) and other aquatic life stranded, dead or dying. The sight was described by local iwi as a “devastating scene,” with carcasses scattered across the exposed mud and shallow pools. The discovery triggered immediate alarm among Rangitāne o Manawatū, Ngāti Apa and neighbouring hapū, who view the lagoon as a living taonga integral to their cultural identity and subsistence practices. Prompt notification was made to the Department of Conservation (DOC) and regional authorities to begin an assessment of the ecological impact and to coordinate a response.
Rangitāne Leadership and Initial Reaction
Debbie te Puni of the Rangitāne o Manawatū Settlement Trust expressed that the scale of mortality was “quite a shock to the system” and emphasised that such a mass die‑off had never been witnessed in living memory, despite the lagoon’s known tendency to shrink during summer droughts. She highlighted the deep, generational connection that iwi have with the waterway, noting that the tuna and other species are not merely ecological indicators but are woven into the whakapapa, stories, and daily life of her people. Te Puni urged that the incident be treated with the gravity it deserves, calling for a swift, transparent investigation that honours both scientific rigor and mātauranga Māori.
Call for an Iwi‑Led Investigation
Te Puni stressed the importance of iwi taking the lead in any inquiry, stating, “We’re looking at a full iwi‑led investigation so we can ensure this doesn’t happen again.” She advocated for a model where external agencies—such as Horizons Regional Council, MDC and DOC—provide technical expertise and logistical support but step aside to allow iwi and hapū to direct the process. This approach, she argued, respects the mana of the whenua and ensures that decisions about the lagoon’s future are grounded in the values, knowledge and responsibilities of those who have cared for it for generations. The intention is to produce outcomes that are both ecologically sound and culturally appropriate.
Historical Perspective from Ngā Wairiki – Ngāti Apa
Pahia Turia, chairperson of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki – Ngāti Apa, offered a sobering historical lens, observing that many local farmers regard the lagoon’s drying as a natural cycle. Turia countered this view by noting that, in the oral histories of his ancestors, there is no record of Pukepuke ever completely drying out. He pointed out that over the past century, extensive drainage schemes have been installed to convert wetlands into farmland, a practice that has “absolutely drained” significant lakes across the region. Turia suggested that the altered hydrology caused by these drainage networks is a plausible root cause of the current crisis, emphasizing the need to reassess land‑use practices that prioritise short‑term agricultural gain over long‑term ecosystem health.
Regional Agency Involvement and Official Statements
Horizons Regional Council, Manawatū District Council and the Department of Conservation were present on Friday to begin gathering data and co‑ordinate the investigation. Horizons chief executive Michael McCartney described the situation as “confronting” and affirmed that harm to taonga species is unacceptable to any stakeholder. He noted that field staff had observed similarly low water levels in other nearby water bodies, including Dudding Lake and Lake Herbert, over recent months and years. While acknowledging that historic water‑quality issues such as elevated nitrogen have plagued some lakes in the district, McCartney stated that the prevailing hypothesis for Pukepuke is a lack of water rather than contaminated inflows, and that the council is now compiling historical records to determine how frequently such extreme drawdowns have occurred.
Water‑Level Observations Across the Region
The council’s preliminary assessment points to a regional trend of declining groundwater and surface‑water reserves, likely driven by a combination of long‑term abstraction for irrigation, altered drainage patterns, and increasingly extreme weather events linked to climate change. McCartney explained that Horizons is analysing precipitation data, bore‑hole levels and land‑use maps to understand whether the current dryness at Pukepuke falls within natural variability or represents a new, concerning threshold. This evidence‑gathering phase will inform any remedial actions, which may include revising water‑allocation permits, restoring natural flow paths, or implementing targeted recharge projects to bolster the lagoon’s hydrological resilience.
Community Mobilisation, Rahui and Fish Salvage Efforts
In response to the alarming images shared on social media, the Rangitāne settlement trust issued a Facebook post urging immediate action: “The tuna need us immediately.” The post called for a Saturday hui, inviting whānau, members of Ngāti Apa, Ngā hapū o Himatangi and Ngāti Raukawa to gather at the lagoon. On the appointed day, a rahui (temporary restriction) was placed over the area, karakia was performed to invoke spiritual protection, and volunteers, alongside a small contingent of Horizons and DOC staff, began rescuing surviving eels and relocating them to safer water bodies. Public access to Pukepuke has since been tightened; DOC permits are now issued only to those conducting investigations or participating in fish‑salvage operations, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the event.
Long‑Term Landscape Change: Lagoon Shrinkage
Historical reconstructions reveal that prior to European settler farming and large‑scale drainage, Pukepuke Lagoon covered approximately 162 hectares. By the 1910‑1930s period, agricultural encroachment had reduced its extent to roughly 49 hectares, and since the 1940s the lagoon has stabilised at around 15 hectares—a decline of more than 90 percent over the past century. This dramatic shrinkage mirrors a broader pattern across the Manawatū Plains, where wetlands were systematically drained to create pasture and cropland. The legacy of those alterations continues to shape the lagoon’s water budget, making it increasingly vulnerable to fluctuations in precipitation and groundwater extraction.
Looking Forward: Protecting Taonga and Collaborative Governance
The incident at Pukepuke Lagoon has galvanised a renewed commitment among iwi, local authorities and the wider community to safeguard this taonga for future generations. Central to the path forward is the recognition that effective management must honour the mana of the whenua, integrate mātauranga Māori with scientific monitoring, and address the underlying drivers of water loss—particularly unsustainable groundwater abstraction and legacy drainage infrastructure. By maintaining an iwi‑led investigative framework, supporting it with technical expertise from regional agencies, and enacting restorative measures such as controlled re‑wetting and habitat enhancement, stakeholders hope to reverse the current trajectory and ensure that the lagoon’s waters once again teem with life, sustaining both ecological health and cultural practice for years to come.