The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Search on for destructive fish pest koi carp in Lake Whakamaru

Taupo & Turangi Weekender
24 Jun, 2020 01:17 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

A DoC manager holds a koi carp. Photo / File

A DoC manager holds a koi carp. Photo / File

Investigations are under way after a member of the public reported seeing koi carp pest fish in Lake Whakamaru.

The lake is one of the largest hydroelectric dam reservoirs on the Waikato River, and sits adjacent to Mercury's Whakamaru power station. Until now, koi carp have never been reported in this lake, although koi carp were confirmed last year in Lake Karapiro.

Koi carp suck up sediment and spit it out while removing insects, worms and snails, dislodging native water plants and making the water murky.

The Department of Conservation advised local iwi Raukawa of the possible sighting and the subsequent investigation.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Staff from DoC, Waikato Regional Council, Mercury and Fish & Game were involved in a two-phase response to information supplied by an experienced koi carp fisherman.

"First we are ascertaining whether koi carp are in the lake. Then, as a proactive measure, we need to ensure the pest fish are not transported either deliberately or inadvertently into other high-value conservation waterways," says Kerry Bodmin, DoC freshwater biosecurity co-ordinator and leader of the Lake Whakamaru investigation.

"We are alarmed about this possible sighting of a very invasive pest species.

"The concern is koi carp could be spread to Lake Taupō and other waterways of high conservation value."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Net fishing and two experimental techniques were implemented as part of the investigation – the use of a drone to spot potential koi carp, and environmental DNA (eDNA) testing where water samples are taken to detect any koi carp DNA.

Bodmin says the use of the drone is still in a development phase, but it looks to be highly effective with positive results to date.

Spyder bike riders gather at Lake Whakamaru. Photo / File
Spyder bike riders gather at Lake Whakamaru. Photo / File

Waikato Regional Council led the eDNA sampling. Nineteen water samples were collected around the lake and sent to a lab for testing. Results are anticipated in 10 to 14 days.

A team led by DoC, in a boat supplied and skippered by Mercury and supported by Matt Osborne from Fish & Game, set nets near Dunham's Reserve, the location of the sighting. Nets were set away from a colony of resident shags to avoid the potential for birds to get caught in the nets.

Discover more

Regenerative farmers enjoying greener pastures

24 Jun 02:15 AM

Tomato red spider mite pest discovered in NZ for first time

30 Jun 02:45 AM

No koi carp were captured in the nets over two days.

"This possible incursion highlights how important it is for lake users to always carefully wash boats, gear, footwear and clothing once out of the water, to remove any weed and fish eggs, and to always check your boat before launching, especially the trailer and propeller," Bodmin says.

Osborne says it's of great importance to investigate reports of invasive species and especially destructive pest fish such as koi carp.

"It's terrific the agencies involved came together collaboratively at short notice to carry out an investigation."

Mercury's catchment sustainability manager Gavin Williamson agrees.

"We were very happy to support DoC, Waikato Regional Council and Fish & Game to respond to this potential sighting of koi carp in Lake Whakamaru. The hydro dams and their lakes are a great community asset and we need to do all we can to protect them from pest fish like koi."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

This pest fish investigation, and other freshwater biosecurity work, is possible through Bio18 funding DoC received from Treasury.

DoC asks people to report any sightings of what they believe is koi carp to pestfish@doc.govt.nz. As koi carp superficially resemble goldfish, it is helpful if reports are accompanied by a photograph for easy verification.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

'I feel aggrieved': 92-year-old online shopper's warning after supermarket meat purchase

The Country

Rural community 'in shock' as industrial park greenlit

The Country

Beekeeper advocacy group comes under pressure


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

'I feel aggrieved': 92-year-old online shopper's warning after supermarket meat purchase
The Country

'I feel aggrieved': 92-year-old online shopper's warning after supermarket meat purchase

A butcher says just 65% of the meat Godfrey Rodgers received would be edible if cooked.

16 Jul 06:00 PM
Rural community 'in shock' as industrial park greenlit
The Country

Rural community 'in shock' as industrial park greenlit

16 Jul 06:00 PM
Beekeeper advocacy group comes under pressure
The Country

Beekeeper advocacy group comes under pressure

16 Jul 03:00 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP