Family fun as 1000 trout released into Lake Tarawera

It was a special afternoon for two young locals who helped release 1000 rainbow trout into Lake Tarawera.

Hollie King, 3, and Jade King, 7, had this afternoon off school and kindergarten and were asked by Fish & Game officer Lloyd Gledhill to hold the pipe from which the fish were "liberated".

Their dad Mike King said it was the first time they had been to a release.

"I've always meant to go see. The girls loved holding the pipe."

After the release, he said Hollie and Jade wanted to take some of the trout home as pets.

"Our plan is to go visit the hatchery, and we'd definitely go back and see another release."

Mr Gledhill said he was happy with how the afternoon went, with about 30 people watching the first autumn release for 2017.

"It shows people what goes on, educates them and hopefully they turn up to the Paradise Valley Rd hatchery to have a look."

Mr Gledhill said the eggs of the released trout had come from Lake Tarawera, so the fish were essentially "coming home".

Fish & Game officer Mark Sherburn said the trout were transported from the hatchery in Ngongotaha to the lake in a transport unit with oxygenated water.

He said fish were liberated at different times of the year and had their fins clipped to a certain pattern for identification and tracking.

The fish would return to their release locations in the winter of 2019 providing action for shore-based fishers during each winter season, Fish & Game said.

In the days after the Tarawera release another 4000 fish will be released into Lake Rotoiti and 250 into Lake Okataina.

Over summer 1500 fish were released.