Fishing News index > November 2006

Oreti River Conservation Order

In May 2005 Fish and Game have applied to the Minister for the Environment for the making of a Water Conservation Order for the Oreti River. The application applies to the main stem of the river, and specified tributaries upstream of Mossburn.

The application seeks recognition of the outstanding values and natural state of the River upstream of Mossburn. It seeks a prohibition on damming of the main stem.

The Oreti River is Southland’s third largest river. The catchment commences southwest of Lake Wakatipu then crosses the Southland Plains to enter the sea near Invercargill about 200km from its source.

The proposed order seeks to reinforce the Regional Council’s Water Plan provisions in relation to water quantity. These limit the amount of water that can be taken and require water users to demonstrate that they will not cause adverse effects before they are allowed to take water for out of stream uses.

The proposed Order also seeks to protect the exceptional water quality of the river upstream of Mossburn, which has low levels of suspended sediments, faecal coliforms and nutrients. The Water Plan also proposes to maintain the water in its existing state in both the tributaries and mainstem of the river. Having the order in place to strengthen these provisions will ensure the fishery is protected. 

In addition to protecting the water quality and quantity in the upper reaches the mainstem down to the tidal reaches is also to be protected from damming. Like other large rivers in the South Island brown trout migrate throughout the length of the river as part of their life cycle so it is essential that free passage is available from the headwaters to the sea.

The Oreti River offers superlative trout fishing, unique in the world. The river upstream of Mossburn contains a high density of large brown trout that have an international reputation for their large size and the fishing opportunities they provide. The upper part of the Oreti River gets about 6000 angler visits annually. About 20,000 visits are made to the lower river each year. Fifty nine percent anglers fishing the upper reaches are tourists from other countries (mainly North American and Australia) and 15% are from other parts of New Zealand, leaving 26% from the Southland Region.

The attractiveness and health of the fishery is dependent on the river in its natural state. It is usually clear and trout can be seen so anglers can “spot” the trout they want to catch, and fish for them individually. This enhances the excitement of the fishing experience, especially as the fish are large. This is a feature of back country fishing in New Zealand. The Oreti provides the best of this kind of trout fishing. An important characteristic is the ability of the River to become clear soon after a flood. This is due largely to the natural state of its catchment. There is very limited development of the catchment for agriculture and there are no point source discharges upstream of Mossburn.

The river also offers excellent habitat for native species such as black billed gulls, black fronted terns, banded dotterels, oystercatchers, stilts, and native fish such as alpine, flathead and roundhead galaxias, upland bullies, and long fin eels.

The Oreti River has special importance for Ngai Tahu. This has been recognised by the Crown in the Ngai Tahu Deed of Settlement and the Ngai Tahu Claims Settlement Act 1998.

The Department of Conservation and Ngai Tahu support the application.

The Application is intended to protect the river in its existing state, and allow current uses to continue, while not permitting degradation in the river in terms of water quality or water quantity. The Order will not prevent Environment Southland from managing the river according to the rules in its Water Plan. Those that live along side it and use it now will not be further restricted. However the Order would prevent damming the mainstem since that would severely damage the river and its internationally important trout fishery.

If you can, please make a submission in support of the Conservation Order Application. The Conservation Order will protect this river in perpetuity so that present and future generations can enjoy it for ever.

Submissions must be sent to Ministry for the Environment by November 15 2006.

Details about the application and how to make a submission can be found at:
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/water/freshwater/water-conservation/oreti-wco-application/index.html

Maurice Rodway
Manager.