Previously published by The Ngāmotu Advocate on 1 January 2026.
After a longfin eel known to Sarah’s family was killed beside the Waiongana Iti, the community response revealed how deeply local people care about their waterways and native species.
Sarah’s reflection connects one confronting event with a wider challenge: protecting biodiversity requires education, shared responsibility and consistent community action. Healthy communities and a durable economy ultimately depend on healthy water, whenua and ecosystems.