A study of the cultural values of wild goldfish (Carassius auratus) in Te Arawa Lakes

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study is to collect historical and contemporary evidence pertaining to the cultural values and meanings of morihana in Te Arawa Lakes. Documenting and collecting stories of six whānau for whom morihana have significant cultural meaning will help iwi entities, kaitiaki, and community members to better understand and appreciate the range of connections that whānau have had with these fish. A second purpose of the study is to bring together existing information about morihana from scientific, regulatory, and historical sources, to assist anyone in Aotearoa who wishes to better understand and manage these fish. To support this aim, we also conducted interviews with three management agency staff about morihana ecology, impacts, and values. Our aim is to provide a rigorous review of scientific knowledge on morihana woven together with stories and experiences of real-world study, interaction with and management of the fish.