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Riki Parata's (Ngāi Tahu, Te Āti Awa ki Whakarongotai) mahi with Hokonui Rūnanga is dedicated to learning more about and protecting an ancient taonga that remains poorly understood: kanakana, also known as piharau or lamprey.

Native vegetation covers less than 2% of Kirikiriroa Hamilton, and many of the city's remaining ecosystems are under pressure. Across gullies, parks, lakes and along the awa, communities have been working for years to change that.

Recently our General Manager, Natalie Jessup presented at Stormwater 2026 alongside councils, developers and iwi representatives, to talk about the state of freshwater species in Aotearoa, and the work underway to reshape how urban communities relate to fresh water.