NISP Hub
Protecting and restoring īnanga spawning habitat across Te Tau Ihu
The National Īnanga Spawning Programme (NISP) is a collaborative initiative focused on identifying, monitoring, protecting, and restoring īnanga spawning habitat across Aotearoa.
Delivered regionally by Tasman Bay Guardians in partnership with Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, Department of Conservation, councils, iwi, schools, catchment groups, and community volunteers, the programme supports hands-on restoration, monitoring, education, and community engagement.
Īnanga are a taonga species and make up the majority of New Zealand’s whitebait catch. Their spawning habitats are often vulnerable to mowing, sedimentation, stock damage, invasive species, barriers to fish passage, and modification of riverbanks and wetlands.
Through a ki uta ki tai — mountains to sea — approach, Tasman Bay Guardians works with communities to improve spawning success, restore habitat, and strengthen understanding of freshwater ecosystems and native fish life cycles.
What Tasman Bay Guardians Can Offer
- Īnanga spawning site surveys and monitoring
- Community and school education programmes
- Restoration planting and temporary habitat installation
- Habitat assessments and restoration planning
- Catchment group and iwi collaboration
- Support with Survey123 and monitoring tools
- Community workshops and training
- Advice on fish passage and habitat protection
Why Īnanga Habitat Matters
Īnanga spawning habitat is often hidden and easily damaged, yet it plays a critical role in supporting healthy freshwater ecosystems and native fish populations.
Protecting spawning areas helps:
- Support whitebait populations
- Improve riparian and wetland habitats
- Increase biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
- Strengthen connections between communities and waterways
