“WHITEBAIT”

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Whitebait season starts next week

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai | Friday, 12 August 2011

MONDAY, 15 August marks the start of another whitebait fishing season for areas other than the West Coast of the South Island. The West Coast whitebait season starts on 01 September.

Whitebaiters are reminded that Department of Conservation (DOC) staff will be patrolling fishing sites to check that people are abiding by the whitebaiting regulations. DOC Ranger, Jamie Quirk said today that the regulations are in place to protect whitebait species and therefore the fishery so it can be enjoyed by future generations.

"Whitebait are the young of native fish such as giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, banded kokopu, koaro and inanga, collectively known as galaxiids. They are a variety of native fish species that spend six months at sea and then make their way up rivers and streams", said Mr Quirk.

They are in decline we are losing more of them each year. Water removal for out-of-stream use, pollution, wetland drainage, introduced pests and destruction of stream-side vegetation are some of the issues that threaten the long-term survival of whitebait species. The whitebaiting season is another threat to the viability of freshwater fish populations. Concern for the future of both the fish and one of New Zealand's best loved recreational traditions prompted creation of whitebaiting regulations.

DOC is also calling on whitebaiters to ensure they comply with whitebaiting regulations in place to protect the whitebait fishery and native fish populations and to be courteous to other waterway users. The regulations include requirements to use only one whitebait net at a time, to stay within 10 metres of the net, and the net should not exceed more than one third of the water channel width.

DOC administers regulations regarding fishing methods, timing, location and net size to ensure that enough young fish get upstream to mature and subsequently create new whitebait for the future. Throughout the season, DOC staff will be patrolling popular fishing sites.

Last year a number of whitebaiters were apprehended and appeared in court. Three were fined $1,000 for whitebait offences and a fourth person is currently remanded in custody awaiting sentencing in early October. This is the first imprisonment for whitebait offending in New Zealand and a sign that the judiciary and DOC take offending seriously to ensure the sustainability of the fishery.

"We're aware that instant communities spring up on the banks of streams and rivers during the whitebaiting season as people experience the pleasures of both tending their nets in beautiful surroundings and consuming their catches. This traditional kiwi pastime is dependent on having sustainable native fish populations. If future generations are also to have the opportunity of enjoying this healthy recreation, it is essential that all whitebaiters observe the regulations", said Mr Quirk.

Whitebaiters are being reminded to clean nets and other gear between waterways to prevent spreading didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) and other aquatic pests during this year's whitebait season. Didymo has not yet been found in North Island rivers. However all rivers should be treated as if they are infected with didymo as it is difficult to detect when not in bloom.

Other pest species (such as pest fish and aquatic weeds) are present in some North Island waterways and can also have negative impacts on whitebait. It is therefore crucial that all freshwater users clean their gear between waterways to protect freshwater biodiversity.

The whitebaiting season lasts until 30 November everywhere except the West Coast of the South Island, where the season ends on the 14 November. Fishing is permitted only between 5am and 8pm or between 6am and 9pm when daylight saving comes into effect.

"Generally speaking, whitebaiters observe the regulations and help us keep this fishery sustainable. The regulations provide for fines of up to $5,000, so fishers should be aware of what is permitted. Pamphlets outlining information on the regulations can be obtained from DOC offices and sports shops", said Mr Quirk.

Information on whitebait regulations can be obtained from DOC offices and visitor centres or on the DOC website.

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See also:

• Whitebait Regulations


Five main whitebait species:

• Banded Kokopu

• Giant Kokopu

• Inanga

• Koaro

• Shortjaw Kokopu

www.doc.govt.nz/about-doc/news/media-releases/whitebait-season-starts-next-week

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Whitebaiter set for new season

By SIMON WONG - The Marlborough Express | Friday, 12 August 2011


ALL READY: Cappy MacDonald checks his nets at
his pozzie beside the Wairau river in preparation
for the Whitebait season which opens on Monday.
— DEREK FLYNN/The Marlborough Express.

PATIENCE truly is a virtue when it comes to whitebaiting, according to Cappy Macdonald.

"You might go down all day and get nothing," Mr Macdonald said yesterday as he prepared for the season to open on Monday.

"If there's none that's too bad. You just go back the next day."

At 84, he's been whitebaiting for about 75 years.

His property on Wairau Bar Rd near Blenheim backs on to the Wairau River and he's been getting his whitebait stand ready as usual. The tidal flow and river currents wash away the platform every year.

Mr Macdonald catches only enough to feed the family.

He predicted this season would be better than last, because he had spotted plenty of whitebait during the past few days.

But he doubted the haul would be as good as previous years.

"It took about 20 minutes to fill a four-gallon drum ... back in the 1950s."

"You can't do that today; there's not as many there."

The whitebaiting season was always a highlight for him and the family, who enjoy whitebait as it is meant to be eaten — as fritters.

The whitebait fishing season runs from August 15 to November 30 over most of New Zealand.

The season on the South Island's West Coast is from September 01 to November 14.

Restrictions on fishing include one net to be used per person, and for whitebaiters to remain within 10 metres of their net.

www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/5435261/Whitebaiter-set-for-new-season

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Wairarapa whitebaiting looms

By SEAMUS BOYER - Wairarapa Times-Age | Saturday, 13 August 2011

GRAB YOUR WADERS, ready your nets and fire up the frying pan — whitebait season is upon us.

From Monday fishermen all over the country will head to their favourite spots and set their nets in hope of snaring the tasty but elusive delicacy.

Despite some shocking weather forecast for opening day, those in the know are hopeful this season will be the best in years.

Keen Masterton whitebaiter Noel Preston said last season was "very iffy" and the season before wasn't great either.

"Hopefully this year will be more like three years ago when we managed 22 pounds [in a day] down there," he said.

He and his whitebaiting cronies would be travelling in about three weeks to the "Onoke Hilton" — the group's favourite spot on the shore of Lake Onoke.

"A couple of years ago we decided to do it properly and took the whole works — frying pan and everything," Mr Preston said. "They were the best whitebait I've ever eaten, straight out of the net and into the pan."

Tony Roseingrave of King and Henry Sportsworld said so far they had sold a steady amount of waders, some netting, but bugger all nets.

"During the season there is a small group who go out regardless and are mad keen for it," Mr Roseingrave said.

"And then there's people like me who may go down if they've heard that [the whitebait are] running or when the weather is particularly good."

Strong southerlies and snow are forecast for Wairarapa on opening day, but it might not affect the fishing.

"My initial thinking is that this weather won't put the rivers up too much — but who knows," Mr Roseingrave said.

The whitebait season runs until November 30 and is policed by Department of Conservation rangers.

Although a licence to fish is not required, rules are strictly enforced and fishermen have an obligation to acquaint themselves with the regulations or risk prosecution.

These include using only one net at a time, staying within 10 metres of the net, and the net not exceeding more than one third of the water channel width.

DoC ranger Jamie Quirk said said last year a number of whitebaiters were arrested and appeared in court, with three fined $1,000 for whitebait offences.

He reminded whitebaiters to clean nets and other gear between waterways to prevent spreading didymo and other aquatic pests.

www.times-age.co.nz/local/news/wairarapa-whitebaiting-looms/3962917

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Chilly start to whitebait season

By SAM MORTON - The Marlborough Express | Monday, 15 August 2011


NETS AWAY: Jim Mears was out at the crack of dawn setting up
his whitebaiting nets in a hard frost at the Wairau Diversion.
He is hoping for a steady run of catches this season.
— SCOTT HAMMOND/The Marlborough Express.

SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES could not deter hardy whitebaiters setting up their nets near Blenheim on the opening day of the season this morning.

About 14 caravans and buses were already parked on the banks of the Wairau Diversion before 7am.

The temperature fell to minus 2.5 degrees Celsius overnight, and campers woke to a hard frost and rare snowy views.

Blenheim man Jim Mears, who has been whitebaiting for more than 30 years, said it was the first time he had seen snow on the White Bluffs.

"It has to be one of the coldest mornings for whitebaiting ever, but it won't stop me. I love it. Bloody cold, though."

"We [Mr Mears and his wife] were amazed to see the snow cover on the Bluffs. I mean, you often see some on the Blairich [Range], but never this far over."

"It is quite amazing, really. What a sight."

For Mr Mears, the challenge of whitebaiting and "the trusty bus heater" keep him coming back every year.

Some years, he has been lucky to haul in just over a pound (half a kilogram), but in other seasons, he has feasted on a good haul of seven pounds (just over 3kg).

Mr Mears also enjoys getting to know his "neighbouring jokers" throughout the season and cooking up a whitebait fritter or two.

The camaraderie at the Diversion was great, he said.

"We all know each other along this bank, to be honest, but there is a joker next to me here who I don't know."

"Naturally, I'll go and share a cuppa with him this morning and get to know him. There's no hiding out here."

Renwick man Phil Footies is the new kid on the block. He usually travels over to the West Coast for the whitebaiting season, but this year he decided to try the Marlborough scene.

"It's the first time for me, actually, fishing down in this spot — but man, look at it," he said.

"Apart from it being bloody ridiculously freezing, it's a great atmosphere and very peaceful."

He struggled to get his truck doors open this morning, and his nets were frozen.

"Mate, I started out in the Wairarapa bush, but it has never been this cold for as long as I can remember in 20 years of whitebaiting. It's unreal."

"Not being able to open my truck doors, yeah, as I said, she was a cold one all right."

The whitebait fishing season runs from August 15 to November 30 in most parts of the country. On the West Coast, the season runs from September 01 to November 14.

Restrictions on fishing include one net per person, and whitebaiters must remain within 10 metres of their net at all times.

www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/5445854/Chilly-start-to-whitebait-season

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DOC warns whitebaiters to stick to rules

By SCOT MACKAY - The Southland Times | Tuesday, 16 August 2011

WHITEBAITERS are being warned that poor weather conditions are no reason to flout the rules after a cold start to the season yesterday.

Snow, rain and hail during the weekend created plenty of white patches across Southland and a wind chill dragged the temperature below freezing, but despite the trying conditions there were still plenty of hardy whitebaiters out for the opening day of the season.

However, the conditions did force many of them to take shelter for much of the day and prompted a warning for them to stay within 10 metres of their nets.

Department of Conservation programme manager community relations Brian Murphy was surprised to hear there were whitebaiters out in the conditions, but warned the weather was no excuse for not tending to nets.

DOC would be out monitoring compliance across rivers in the region this season and warned that whitebaiters should take particular care with the size of nets and that they did not cover more than a third of the river, he said.

Whitebaiter Mark Rule, who was one of the few hardy souls fishing the lower arm of the Mataura, estimated about a quarter of the people who were usually fishing on opening day were out yesterday. However, while the weather was cold, it was not the worst he had seen in his 20 years' experience and could be expected for the time of year, he said.

Hiding from the elements in his four-wheel-drive, Mr Rule had caught only one whitebait in the morning but was hoping the incoming tide would bring more.

"I don't know if it is a wise decision [to be out fishing], but if you don't have a net in the water you don't know [if the fish are running] — If I get enough for a feed I will be happy," he said.

The season runs until November 30.

www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5450009/DOC-warns-whitebaiters-to-stick-to-rules

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Warning for whitebaiters

By ANITA MORAN - The Rotorua Daily Post | Tuesday, 16 August 2011


ON WATCH: The start of the whitebaiting season comes
with a warning from the Department of Conservation.

AS THE WHITEBAITING SEASON starts, whitebaiters are being warned to abide by regulations.

The season officially started yesterday and Department of Conservation staff say they will be patrolling fishing sites to check on whitebaiters.

DOC ranger Jamie Quirk said the regulations were in place to protect whitebait species and the fishery so it could be enjoyed by future generations.

"Whitebait are the young of native fish, such as giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, banded kokopu, koaro and inanga. They are a variety of native fish species that spend six months at sea and then make their way up rivers and streams," said Mr Quirk.

"They are in decline, we are losing more of them each year."

Pollution, wetland drainage, pests and destruction of stream-side vegetation were some of the issues that threatened whitebait, he said.

Regulations include requirements to use only one net at a time, to stay within 10m of the net and that it not exceed more than one-third of the water channel width.

DOC administers regulations regarding fishing methods, timing, location and net size to ensure enough young fish move upstream to mature and create new whitebait for the future.

"Throughout the season, DOC staff will be patrolling popular fishing sites," Mr Quirk said.

"Last year, a number of whitebaiters were apprehended and appeared in court. Three were fined $1000 for whitebait offences and a fourth person is currently remanded in custody awaiting sentencing in early October."

Mr Quirk said it was the first time someone had been held in custody for an offence under whitebait legislation which showed how seriously the department took such offending.

"This traditional Kiwi pastime is dependent on having sustainable native fish populations. If future generations are also to have the opportunity of enjoying this healthy recreation, it is essential that all whitebaiters observe the regulations."

"Whitebaiters also needed to clean nets and other gear between waterways to prevent spreading didymo and other aquatic pests," said Mr Quirk.

"Didymo has not yet been found in North Island rivers. However all rivers should be treated as if they are infected with didymo as it is difficult to detect when not in bloom."

The whitebaiting season ends on November 30 everywhere except the West Coast of the South Island, where the season ends on November 14. Fishing is currently permitted between 5am and 8pm but will change to between 6am and 9pm when daylight saving comes into effect.

www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/news/warning-whitebaiters/1069388

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Whitebaiters' patience tested on opening day

The Nelson Mail | Tuesday, 16 August 2011


NO LUCK: Gary Pomeroy of Stoke checks for signs of whitebait
on the banks of the Waimea Estuary on opening day.
— COLIN SMITH/The Nelson Mail.

WHITEBAIT SEASON kicked off yesterday, but the fish were nowhere to be seen.

Redwoods Valley resident John Morris headed out to the Waimea Estuary, near Rabbit Island, with his net at 9.30am to try his luck alongside about 10 others searching for the white gold.

He stayed until about 12.30pm, but there were no fritters for lunch.

"I didn't get anything. One guy near me got a cupful, but that's not much."

"People were moving around a lot. They weren't staying in any one place, because there wasn't much about."

One man had caught quite a lot at Motueka yesterday, though, he said.

Mr Morris was not discouraged, and said this was about normal for the start of the season. "Everything's got to settle down. And you've got to find your spot. Of course, it depends on the weather too."

The best conditions were usually after it had rained, and when the river had gone down a bit, he said.

"The river's a bit high at the moment."

Mr Morris has been whitebaiting to supply his family and friends since retiring six years ago.

He had heard Motueka and Appleby were bountiful spots last year, and was planning to head down to the Appleby River today.

Despite living by the river for 50 years, this would be the first time he had fished in it, he said.

"I went down the coast to Karamea last year for about five weeks, but there was nothing."

"The Appleby might be a bit better. I'll try here for a month anyway, and if it's all right that'll do me, but if there's nothing I'll head to Karamea again at the beginning of next month."

www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/5452305/Whitebaiters-patience-tested-on-opening-day

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Hardy whitebaiters brave the cold

By JO MOIR - Taranaki Daily News | Tuesday, 16 August 2011

A CUP OF WHITEBAIT with a dollop of snow made for an unusual day on the Mokau River yesterday.

The official start of the whitebaiting season kicked off with more than 100 keen fishermen and their nets on the Mokau braving the cold and snowy conditions for the sake of a few fritters for their dinner.

Conservation Department marine ranger Bryan Williams said the Mokau River and areas in Waitara and New Plymouth were all busy with whitebaiters.

"It was a pretty good day on the river for some in Mokau that caught between three and four kilograms while others didn't get much at all."

He said whitebaiters were out in force by 6am and between 10.30 and 11am the snow fell in Mokau.

"One of the guys I was speaking to said the snow hadn't fallen on the Mokau River since 1960," Mr Williams said.

The weather on Taranaki rivers meant wrapping up warm.

"It's been a good start to the season and the whitebait are definitely running."

www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5450535/Hardy-whitebaiters-brave-the-cold

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Caution as whitebait season opens

SunLive News | Tuesday, 16 August 2011



THE WHITEBAIT SEASON is open and runs until November 30, a full three months, amid warnings that four of the five whitebait species are in decline.

“Whitebait is the young of native fish, swimming upstream once a year, and we are losing more of them every year,” says Department of Conservation biodiversity programme manager Chris Clark.

“Four of the five main whitebait species are now classified as in decline, including inanga, the most commonly caught species.”

DOC manages the fishery and is promoting measures to sustain whitebait populations through habitat protection, maintaining fish passage and getting whitebaiters to follow the legal whitebait fishing regulations.

“Whitebaiters must ensure they know the Whitebait Fishing Regulations and comply with them. This includes maximum net sizes, not fishing near bridges or culverts and restrictions on fishing hours,” says Chris.

The decline in whitebait species is mostly due to a lack of clean healthy rivers, streams and wetlands for adult native fish. Planting and fencing stream edges can improve their habitat.

“We encourage keen whitebaiters to assist with whitebait habitat protection to help maintain healthy fish populations, so the Kiwi tradition of whitebaiting can be enjoyed into the future,” says Chris.

“Protection of stream habitats by fencing out stock and planting up with native trees are worthwhile projects to get involved with.”

DOC rangers will be patrolling waterways to check whitebaiters are sticking to the regulations, but if people see anyone breaking the rules they are asked to report it to DOC on 0800 362 468.

www.sunlive.co.nz/news/15217-caution-as-whitebait-season-opens.html

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Protect whitebaiting by obeying the rules

The Gisborne Herald | Wedneaday, 17 August 2011

THE whitebait fishing season has started and the Department of Conservation urges people to obey the rules to protect the fishery.

DoC staff will be out to check whitebaiters, says DoC ranger Jamie Quirk.

Whitebait are the young of native fish such as giant kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, banded kokopu, koaro and inanga, collectively known as galaxiids.

They are a variety of native fish species that spend six months at sea, then make their way up rivers and streams.

They are in decline. More are being lost each year.

Water removal for out-of-stream use, pollution, wetland drainage, introduced pests and destruction of stream-side vegetation are some of the issues that threaten the long-term survival of whitebait species.

The whitebaiting season is another threat to the fish.

Regulations include requirements to use only one whitebait net at a time, to stay within 10 metres of the net, and the net should not exceed more than one-third of the water channel width.

The rules about fishing methods, timing, location and net size are to make sure enough young fish get upstream to mature and subsequently create new whitebait for the future.

Whitebaiters are reminded to clean nets and other gear between waterways to prevent spreading didymo and other aquatic pests.

The whitebaiting season lasts until November 30. Fishing is permitted only between 5am and 8pm, or between 6am and 9pm when daylight saving comes into effect.

Regulations provide for fines of up to $5000, so whitebaiters should be aware of what is permitted.

More information is available from DoC offices, website and sports shops, said Mr Quirk.

www.gisborneherald.co.nz/article/?id=24161

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Perfect fritter requires the perfect whitebait stand

By LIAM HARVEY - Taranaki Daily News | Thursday, 18 August 2011


GOOD CATCH: One Waiwhakaiho River regular, who wanted to
be known only as Joy, says “a true whitebaiter never reveals
their catch”. — CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News.

AN Awakino River whitebait stand with an asking price of $8000 has recently changed hands, and with fishermen reporting a healthy start to the season, it might prove money well spent.

Taranaki whitebaiters are reporting catches of three to four kilograms in the first week of the season.

"There are plenty of whitebaiters around and they have all had a feed," the owner of Mokau's Whitebait Inn, Graham Marsden, said. "There's been a kilo or two caught upriver."

A stand advertised on the Whitebait Inn's noticeboard as for sale at $8000 had changed hands, Mr Marsden said, but the final price and new owner were closely guarded secrets.

In 2009, Awakino stands were reported as selling for between $4000 and $10,000, cheap compared with prime West Coast sites, which have current Trade Me listings of $50,000.

Awakino Hotel owner Craig Morrison, who is also a keen whitebaiter, said there had been a good turnout on the river despite the worst cold spell of the winter.

Despite whitebait supposedly not liking cold water, he too had heard of decent catches.

In New Plymouth, one whitebaiter who did not mind the cold was a 63-year-old Waiwhakaiho River regular who would identify herself only as Joy.

"It was primo," she said of fishing as the snow fell on opening day.

A "true whitebaiter never reveals their catch", she said, but predicted the elusive quarry would be running in even bigger numbers when the water got warmer about the middle of next month.

If you're not able to scoop your own whitebait, calls from the Taranaki Daily News found there is scant supply in the shops.

Mr Marsden said the Whitebait Inn had none for sale apart from in fritters and when they did it would likely cost upwards of $100 per kg.

New Plymouth fish suppliers had no whitebait for sale but Egmont Seafoods promised its price would be less that $100 per kg "even if it was $99.50".

• Liam Harvey is a Witt journalism student.

www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5463922/Perfect-fritter-requires-the-perfect-whitebait-stand

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Whitebait exhibition

By CHERYL RILEY - The Greymouth Star | Thursday, 18 August 2011


WHITEBAIT CANS: Hokitika Museum Director, Julia Bradshaw, with
the cans of beetroot masquerading as whitebait cans in the display.

HOKITIKA MUSEUM has bought up dozens of cans of beetroot for display — not true to label, but to portray the once bustling West Coast industry of whitebait canning.

Director Julia Bradshaw said the particular beetroot cans were closest she could find to the tins of whitebait that were canned on the West Coast and exported all over the world up until 1966.

She made the discovery while researching whitebaiting in the region in preparation for an exhibition to be staged at the Carnegie Gallery during the Rugby World Cup.

The cans have been authenticated with labels from the Southern Alps canning factory at Okuru, the St George factories in Hokitika and Westport, and the Bruce Bay factory, which operated until the 1950s.

The Southern Alps whitebait canning factory was believed to be the largest in New Zealand and was operated by the Nolan family from 1929 to the 1950s. The St George factories were operated by the Otago-based Irvine and Stevenson company, which sent factory workers to the West Coast for the whitebait season. The Westport canning operation was the last to close, in 1966.

Dried whitebait was exported to China while the main export markets for canned whitebait were in Europe and Singapore.

Whitebait canning became obsolete with the advent of household freezers.

www.greystar.co.nz/content/whitebait-exhibition

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Hard line on whitebait

By GWYNETH HYNDMAN - The Southland Times | Friday, 19 August 2011

WHITEBAITERS slapped with inspection fees almost triple the amount they would normally pay to Environment Southland face their stands being taken down if the bill isn't paid by next month, a spokesman said yesterday.

Southland Recreational Whitebaiters Association president Brett Pearce said he had been fielding phone calls all week from whitebaiters who had been billed $95 for the annual inspection charge, plus the usual $20 inspection cost.

The fee — $115 including GST, which covers whitebaiting stands from last month till June 30, 2012 — was previously about $40, Mr Pearce said.

"Most of the whitebaiters are people who have very little or no income. And this is recreational, not commercial whitebaiting we're talking about."

He said the association had been given no warning that fees would be increasing by that much and that it was a huge blow to their pockets.

"We think it's a little unfair."

Environment Southland compliance manager Mark Hunter said the increase in fees was because inspectors were facing "a certain level of non-compliance".

"Inspections are incurring a lot more staff time now. People aren't identifying their own whitebaiting [structures] — other parties have a habit of moving their stands or erecting one where it shouldn't be."

Mr Hunter said a reference to the rise in fees had been published in its annual plan and a two-page letter had been sent out on July 07 with an outline of compliance guidelines relating to pit toilets, upcoming inspections, ropes and anchors and whitebait structures.

The last two sentences in the third paragraph read: "Last season staff found a number of cases where structures had been modified, shifted without authority, or had no identification. This resulted in the cost of inspections rising substantially and this has been reflected in this year's inspection charge."

Mr Pearce said 90 per cent of association members would have missed the "buried sentences" in the letter and were now facing the possibility of having their structures disassembled if their bill was not paid by September 20 deadline. "It's a bit tough really."

Mr Hunter said Environment Southland was required to recover 100 per cent of the costs incurred when staff were spending excessive time following up on structures built outside compliance guidelines.

www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5472050/Hard-line-on-whitebait

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Whitebait catch of the day

By IAIN HYNDMAN - Wanganui Chronicle | Monday, 22 August 2011


COOKING FOR A CAUSE: Justin Newland (left), and
Paschal Guigou whip up their winning creation
— “lime-scented whitebait dim sim” — at the
Great Whitebait Cook Off on Saturday night.
— VAUGHAN BURKE/Wanganui Chronicle.

THEY CAME, they saw, they cooked whitebait.

They are Paschal Guigou and Justin Newland, and they're the winners of Jigsaw Whanganui's Great Whitebait Cook Off.

Messrs Guigou and Newland edged out competition from 15 other teams with their creation, a lime-scented whitebait dim sim.

Guests paid $80 to attend the cook-off at the War Memorial Hall, where they could watch all the teams in action and then sample the dishes.

Each team of two had just 20 minutes to cook a dish from start to finish. They were given basic kitchen equipment and 250g of whitebait, with all other ingredients supplied by the teams.

Well-known faces were among the chefs, including Mayor Annette Main, whose team made a whitebait crepe. Local politicians Hamish McDouall and Chester Borrows and their teams made classic Kiwi whitebait recipes.

The Wanganui Chronicle also made an appearance, general manager Andy Jarden and advertising sales rep Amanda de Ruyter whipping up a whitebait-and-huhu-grub creation.

Judging was done by Angela Ferguson from the NZ Chefs' Association, wine merchant Patrick van Alfen and a "mystery judge", Tyke Terawi from Turakina, who was chosen on the night.

Mr Newland was reluctant to share his award-winning recipe but told the Wanganui Chronicle it contained minced whitebait, coriander, coconut cream, lime zest, tempura batter and a special dipping sauce.

A retired farmer, Mr Newland said he and cooking partner Mr Guigou, a translator, decided to take part in the competition because they knew it was for a good cause.

"We made up the recipe ourselves, although my wife had the idea for it."

"We went through quite a few recipe books then had a couple of practises."

But Mr Newland said cooking at home and cooking in front of 200 people were two different things.

"When we had our practise runs we could do it in 15 minutes but, on the night, it took us the full 20 minutes. It was a bit nerve-racking at first but once we got our heads down we were so focused we didn't really think much about the crowd."

The pair won a day's training at the Ruth Pretty cooking school.

All proceeds from the night went to Jigsaw Whanganui, and executive director Tim Metcalfe said he was delighted by the event. "It's the first major fundraising event we've had and it was a great success."

He said the total profits had not yet been tallied but "it will be a comfortable surplus".

He said the event had received support from several sponsors.

Mr Metcalfe said people were already talking about next year's event.

"I hope it will become a regular feature on Wanganui's social calendar," he said.

www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz/news/whitebait-catch-of-the-day/1075717

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Long-time passion for whitebaiting

The Marlborough Express | Wednesday, 24 August 2011


CAUGHT & COOKED: Department of Conservation ranger
Rod Avery with his venison casserole and whitebait patties.

A FIRE GRATE and some wire mesh was all it took to get keen whitebaiter Rob Avery hooked.

The Department of Conservation (DOC) Marlborough South ranger said his first whitebait fishing expedition came when he was about 9, living in Christchurch.

"I had a good mate who lived close to the Avon River and we saw these people down there with nets so we got an old fire guard grate and some wire mesh netting and we chucked it in the river and when we pulled it out it probably had 30-40 whitebait in it. That's how I got the bug, I suppose."

Rob began saving his money from odd jobs to buy a net and he's been fishing ever since, even joining a few hardy souls fishing on the opening day of the season on Monday last week, despite freezing temperatures.

Although whitebaiting took a back seat for a few years after he left school, he soon returned to the hobby when he moved to Marlborough for work in 1987.

Since then he has missed "the odd season", but has been getting more serious during the past five to six years, he said.

"I really love it when you've got a beautiful calm morning and just a light breeze. You're up to your guts in water and the sea birds are out, you lift the net and you can see the whitebait and water trickling down like a shower. That's pretty cool."

Always keen on the outdoors, Rob grew up spending summers on his grandparents farm near Oxford, in Canterbury, where he used to hunt and fish with his cousins.

After school he became a forestry worker, but with the work drying up he switched to work for DOC three years ago.

"The last day we were driving down the Wairau Valley road. I looked across the valley and I thought ‘there's a lot of hills here that I haven't been to the top of yet’."

"I thought what's a job that will let me get to the top of those hills and get paid for it?"

Being a DOC ranger and being able to work in the New Zealand bush was pretty special and had allowed him to tick off a few hills, he said.

In his spare time the former Marlborough Red Devils rugby team flanker also coaches his sons' rugby teams and still likes to hunt.

Rob grew up watching his grandmother cook his early hunting spoils and started learning to cook in his early forestry days. A love of food was a big part of his cooking.

"I have always enjoyed a feed and if you enjoy eating you come to the conclusion you have got to learn to cook."

His daughter Courtney, 21, and son Mitchell, 15, are also keen cooks. All his cooking is self-taught, Rob says, and he often tries to copy his wife Philippa's cooking, but he does not usually use recipes.

"I generally just wing it. There's nothing flash about my cooking, but it will be tasty and nutritious."

______________________________________

WHITEBAIT PATTIES

Ingredients:

• 500g whitebait

[/size][/li][li]4 eggs[/size][/li][li]¼ cup of flour[/size][/li][li]1 tsp baking powder[/size][/li][li]Dripping for frying[/size][/li][/ul]Method:

• Beat the eggs in a bowl, add the baking powder and whitebait, add the flour, mix until smooth.

[/size][/li][/ul]

• Cover the bottom of a frying pan in dripping and heat, when the pan is hot add the mixture.

[/size][/li][/ul]

• Turn the patties when the edges start to darken and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

[/size][/li][/ul]

• Serve hot.

[/size][/li][/ul]

______________________________________

VENISON CASSEROLE

Ingredients:

• 1kg venison

[/size][/li][li]1 lemon[/size][/li][li]4 onions[/size][/li][li]4 carrots[/size][/li][li]2-3 Oxo cubes[/size][/li][li]Beans, peas or corn to taste[/size][/li][/ul]Method:

• Dice the venison, add a squeeze of lemon, salt and pepper and leave in a bowl to marinate.

[/size][/li][/ul]

• In a hot pan sear the venison, chop up and add the onion and carrots along with the Oxo cubes.

[/size][/li][/ul]

• Simmer till the meat is tender, if the meat gets dry add ½ glass of beer for moisture and flavour.

[/size][/li][/ul]

• Once tender add beans, peas, corn or other vegetables to taste and continue simmer till the vegetables are cooked.

[/size][/li][/ul]www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/community-papers/5494070/Long-time-passion-for-whitebaiting

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Quotas, licences urged for 'bait

By IAN ALLEN - The Marlborough Express | Friday, 26 August 2011

THE FUTURE of whitebait could be in jeopardy unless a system of commercial licences and recreational quotas are introduced, says a freshwater ecologist based in Marlborough.

Whitebait is one of the few species people can catch and sell without a licence or quota.

Marlborough District Council environmental scientist Peter Hamill said people were making a tax-free living off whitebait without considering its sustainability for future generations.

He blamed a culture of greed, saying people should start "thinking beyond the frying pan".

"There is a gold-rush mentality," he said. "People think ‘Let's get down there, take what we can and sell it off’. Something has to be done before it's too late."

Money from licence fees could be invested in research and management of whitebait species, Mr Hamill said.

"Otherwise it will reach a stage where some of the species will become extinct locally."

A report by a group of New Zealand scientists in 2009 reclassified the inanga whitebait, the main species native to Marlborough, from "not threatened" to "at risk — declining". The estimated population of more than 100,000 mature inanga would decline by up to 70 per cent within 10 years.

Marlborough is one of the strongholds for shortjaw kokopu, especially in rivers and streams in the Marlborough Sounds, and they estimated there were fewer than 20,000 adults left, with the population expected to decline by 30 per cent within a decade.

Mr Hamill said he was concerned by the study results.

"Similar fishing laws for other species should apply to whitebait," he said. "I find it strange that when people are developing on the river they need resource consents and planning permission, yet during whitebait season people can take as much as they want."

However, any law change would have to come from the Government and he did not think anyone was politically strong enough to go through with it "because there would be a huge outcry from whitebait fishermen who sell it commercially. Most people would say it's more bureaucratic nonsense taking away their rights as a Kiwi".

The Fisheries Ministry said the whitebait fishery was managed by the Department of Conservation, while the department said it would have to hand control over to the ministry if quotas and licences were introduced.

Blenheim whitebaiter Alex Kennedy said it would be a "sad day" if quotas and licences were introduced.

"It would be another freedom gone down the gurgler," he said. "Soon you won't be able to do anything. All these bone heads in offices just make up rules to keep themselves in jobs. The country is going to the dogs."

Pat Best, who has been fishing for whitebait for nearly three decades, said there should be a ban on using larger sock nets.

"When there are 40 of those in the river the whitebait don't stand a chance," she said. "But to licence the weekend fishermen who only come down for a few days would not be fair. They couldn't afford that."

DOC south Marlborough area manager David Hayes was concerned about whitebait numbers and said people should not be greedy, although over-fishing was just one factor.

"The loss of habitat is another major contributor for their decline. The lower Wairau used to be all swamp whereas now there is hardly any left. But people should ask themselves whether they want their grandchildren to be able to enjoy the same fishing they have enjoyed."

www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/5512645/Quotas-licences-urged-for-bait

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Editorial: Going against the flow

The Marlborough Express | Monday, 29 August 2011

COULD YOU you hear a din coming from out along the lower stretches of the Wairau River at the weekend?

It seemed to involve a lot of banging and grinding.

Possibly it was keen whitebaiters reacting to the suggestion that their catch should be limited by a quota and they should need a licence to sell the fishy delicacy. Thumping tables and grinding their teeth, maybe.

Marlborough District Council environmental scientist Peter Hamill last week resurrected his suggestion that a system of quota and licences needs to be introduced to protect whitebait, which is one of the few species in the country that people can catch without a licence, in any amount, and sell it.

He thinks many whitebaiters are motivated by greed and don't take into account the declining number of their prey. Figures he produced suggest the population of adult inanga whitebait, the main species in Marlborough, is sitting at 100,000 and will drop by up to 70 per cent within 10 years unless some sort of protection is introduced. Scientists also estimate the shortjaw kokopu whitebait is down to 20,000 adults and will keep declining.

It is difficult to understand why whitebait are one of the few species without any controls. This could be because the fish are managed by the Department of Conservation, while quotas and licences are the preserve of the Ministry of Fisheries. Neither department showed much interest in Mr Hamill's concerns last week.

But whitebaiters interviewed by The Marlborough Express reacted swiftly, with one baiter out on the Wairau Diversion seeing the idea as simply the removal of another freedom.

"All these boneheads in offices just make up rules to keep themselves in jobs," he said.

While another baiter thought some of her fellow enthusiasts could reduce the size of their nets, she was not happy about the idea.

So Mr Hamill will struggle to get much support from the people he needs on side.

Whitebaiting is a self-limiting fishery. The season length is the only control on the number of fish caught, yet after years of baiting there still seem to be plenty to catch when the weather and river levels are in alignment.

The research quoted by Mr Hamill could be a concern, but a great deal more work would need to be done in this area before many people could be convinced of the need to introduce more stringent controls and, as he says, he can't see a lot of political appetite for going in that direction.

www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/opinion/5524093/Editorial-Going-against-the-flow

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Netting white gold

Otago Daily Times | Tuesday, 30 August 2011


WHITE GOLD: Stuart Hewlett fishing for whitebait. — Photo: PETER McINTOSH/Otago Daily Times.

WAIKOUAITI resident Stuart Hewlett (78) resets his net after hauling in another cup of whitebait from the Waikouaiti River yesterday.

Mr Hewlett has been whitebaiting for more than 40 years — 20 of those in the same spot on the Waikouaiti River.

He declined to say how much he netted yesterday.

"I've been catching small amounts. About a cup here and there," Mr Hewlett said.

Whitebait can be bought frozen from Dunedin fish suppliers for about $30 for 250g, or for about $6.50 per patty at restaurants.

Retailers say the price is continuing to increase because the numbers of whitebait in Southland and east coast rivers are declining.

www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/175577/netting-white-gold

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Whitebait set to run

By SEAMUS BOYER - Wairarapa Times-Age | Tuesday, 30 August 2011


FALSE START: Whitebaiters are expected to be out in force this
week after a false start to the season due to heavy seas.

DESPITE a good dose of sunshine and clear blue skies the opening to this year's whitebaiting season has been dampened by huge seas.

But those in the know say they are still hopeful the season will turn out to be a good one, with keen whitebaiters set to descend on the coast this week.

Lake Ferry Hotel owner Mary Tipoki said the season had been a write-off so far, with the estuary mouth on Lake Onoke largely closed.

"There's been some huge seas that have closed the mouth a couple of times but it's open at the moment."

"People have been out but they haven't been catching anything."

The whitebaiting season opened on August 15 with a few bitterly cold days of snow followed by a golden week of fine, sunny days.

Mrs Tipoki said the fish appeared to be biting.

"I think the fishing has been good though since everything has calmed down, which can be a good sign."

She said she was expecting good numbers of whitebaiters this week to make the most of the open estuary.

The whitebait season runs until November 30 and is policed by Department of Conservation rangers.

Although a licence to fish is not required, rules are strictly enforced.

www.times-age.co.nz/news/whitebait-season-a-write-off-so-far/1085167

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Rivermouth addicts

By BLANTON SMITH - Taranaki Daily News | Wednesday, 31 August 2011


FANATICS: Geoff Preston says
whitebaiting is like an addiction.
— Photo: Taranaki Daily News.

CALLING A whitebaiter an enthusiast is an understatement. They're fanatics.

Don't believe me? Head down to the Mokau River on a cold morning and watch them wade almost neck-deep in the freezing water for hours on end.

Their commitment is unquestionable; in fact it's unrivalled.

Sure they wear wetsuit waders, but even snow didn't stop whitebaiters heading for the rivermouths around Taranaki on open day.

If you could've separated yourself from the hot water bottle you would have seen them, those mad men and women, plunging their nets towards the sandy depths, waiting for the shoals to arrive.

Someone you might have seen is Geoff Preston, a Mokau local, living legend and self-confessed fanatic.

The fact he has a specially designed net, so he can "get deeper," says it all really.

Geoff's enthusiasm is obvious as he explains how after one good catch many years ago he was hooked.

"You just get that adrenaline rush, it's like an addiction," the 50-year-old says.

Big catches usually occur when the water's dirty and conditions are rough, that's why whitebaiters are out in all weather, he says.

"If your net's raining whitebait, you're running to the bucket to empty them out and then getting straight back in the water cause it doesn't last long."

"I've had it where they are pinging off your frame there's that many of them, but that only happens once or twice a year. Sometimes you will catch kilos and that's what makes all the other times worth it."

www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/5537399/Rivermouth-addicts

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On the Stand

By BLANTON SMITH - Taranaki Daily News | Thursday, 01 September 2011


FIRST CLASS: Whitebaiting from a stand.

IF WHITEBAITING was like flying, those fishing the stands would be sitting in first class.

While they might not admit it, this type of whitebaiting is easy compared with scooping.

Unless the tide is low there's no need to get your feet wet and, if you're smart, the shanty you're sitting in is kitted out with a gas cooker, transistor radio and any other comforts you might need.

"Up here (Mokau River), with the set net in the water, it's a lot less work ... as you can tell by the beer," says Nathan Terrill, before taking a swig.

"It's a relaxed style you know, it's out doors in the fresh air."

It's easy because a set net is used and most of the time it's placed perfectly, well dumped, off a small jetty sitting on the edge of the river.

Sure, there is some technique involved, don't get me wrong.

Apart from dropping the net and picking it up every 20 minutes or so, there isn't much more to do except read or listen to the radio.

But the fact it's easy doesn't excuse these up-river fisherman from being fanatics.

A boat ride up the Mokau River offers a bewildering sight in itself — stands dot the river bank, every 50m or so, for kilometres on end.

"There's thousands of them," the New Plymouth man says.

"They go up to about the middle of the Awakino River," he says.

Whitebaiting from a stand is first class for its expense too.

"The one I'm fishing on cost $5000, but I've heard of offers of $100,000 for a stand, a little piece of wood on a box," says Nathan.

The expense seems surreal when you consider the average stand is about the size of a closet (not a walk-in wardrobe), but the prices are more easily justified when you do the math on a well-positioned stand's earning potential.

"We know a guy who caught 130kg-140kg within four days," say Nathan.

With whitebait very rarely dropping below $100 a kilogram a stand can pay itself off in just a few years.

However, the beauty of whitebaiting, like any sort of fishing, is the fact you can eat your catch.

Whether you were dredging the river mouth with a scoop net or fishing from the comfort of your $100,000 closet, a whitebait fritter always tastes better when you've caught the ingredients.

www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/behind-the-passion/5546695/On-the-Stand

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Sunburn killing whitebait

By DEIRDRE MUSSON - The Press | Thursday, 01 September 2011


FRIED WITHOUT SHADE: Whitebait production is
massively reduced because of sun damage to eggs,
a Canterbury University study has found.
— MARION VAN DIJK/The Nelson Mail.

WHITEBAITING are getting fried before they hit the pan, with sunburn killing millions of their eggs, new research shows.

Canterbury University researchers, in a study released today, found that whitebait production was massively reduced because of sun damage to eggs.

"If they don't have a protective canopy above them, they're going to get fried," said Dr Mike Hickford, of the university's marine ecology research group.

He said the main species of whitebait, inanga, spawned almost exclusively under riverbank vegetation in tidal areas where fresh met salty water.

The eggs were laid in spring tides in late summer to early autumn, and developed out of water for weeks, which was unusual for a fish species.

Once the eggs were ready to hatch, which averaged about four weeks, the next spring tide would cover them and they would hatch and then be washed out to sea.

Hickford said riverbank modifications and livestock grazing had damaged vegetation, affecting breeding grounds.

Lower vegetation meant less shade for the eggs.

About half of whitebait eggs died in good habitat but that increased to a 95 per cent in poor habitat, Hickford said.

Even slight increases in temperature and radiation exposure had a major impact.

He said while whitebait numbers were unknown, anecdotally it seemed that catches were declining, but that could be because of better fishing techniques and more people fishing for whitebait.

Hickford's research into whitebait habitat will be part of the country's biggest-ever whitebait exhibition, which will open at the Hokitika Museum on September 09.

Museum director Julia Bradshaw said a theme of the exhibition was the belief whitebait catches had declined since the 1970s.

"There were some fantastic hauls in the early days. The record for one person in one day is 113 kerosene tins, caught by Des Nolan on the Waiatoto River during the 1940s. That's around 2000 kilograms of whitebait," she said.

"Without refrigeration or access to canning factories, there was often simply too much whitebait and it was used as chook feed and garden fertiliser."

Today marks the start of West Coast's whitebait season, which is 2½ weeks later than the rest of New Zealand.

www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5544354/Sunburn-killing-whitebait

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Squabbles mark whitebait opening

By CHERYL RILEY - The Greymouth Star | Friday, 02 September 2011


EX-WHITEBAITER: Colin McKinney at one of his formerly-owned
whitebait stands on the Waiatoto River south of Haast.

WHITEBAITERS due to dip their nets when the West Coast fishing season opens today have welcomed the rain.

Many river mouths are blocked and whitebaiters are hoping for a good downpour to flush backed-up rivers out to the sea to let the little fish swim up the rivers — and into waiting nets.

A steady stream of four-wheel-drives towing boats and trailers loaded up with nets, freezers and trail bikes has been arriving on the West Coast lately, and riverbeds had been a hive of activity with whitebaiters preparing stands and structures for the season, which runs through to November 14.

Retired Haast whitebait buyer Colin McKinney, has sold his four prime stands on the Waiatoto River and said he would not be putting a net in this season.

Whitebaiters’ attitudes had changed, he said, “especially in the last five to eight years”.

Mr McKinney, whose wife grew up fishing the Waiatoto, bemoaned that the West Coast gained nothing from the whitebaiters who arrived in their droves and bought all their supplies with them, kept their nets in from daylight to dark, and then returned home to the east coast taking all their whitebait with them.

“It’s all changed, and I wouldn’t say for the better — not for the West Coast region, not for the whitebait species and not for our local whitebaiters.”

“Where we used to fish two hours either side of the tide, these people from away leave nets in from daylight to dark,” Mr McKinney said.

“Sure, there are bait after the tide, but we left them to breed.”

Department of Conservation ranger Shane Cross said staff had been busy with fishermen squabbling about positions on rivers.

“We allow a fortnight before the season for whitebaiters to prepare stands and structures, and this year there has been a lot of squabbling going on as to who can fish where and why.”

A poacher caught fishing before the season on the Arawhata River, south of Haast, had nets confiscated and legal action was pending, Mr Cross said.

DOC whitebait rangers attended a pre-season refresher training course at Fox Glacier this week.

www.greystar.co.nz/content/squabbles-mark-whitebait-opening

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Rare birds threatened by ‘bloody idiots’

By KAY BLUNDELL at Kapiti - The Dominion Post | Saturday, 03 September 2011

HOONING DRIVERS tearing up the beach at Waikanae estuary at the start of the whitebait season are threatening endangered birds, a local conservationist says.

A four-wheel-drive vehicle was written off last weekend when it ploughed into a wetland lagoon at the North Beach end of Waikanae estuary near nesting endangered birds, including wrybills.

District Councillor K. Gurunathan said the four-wheel-drive was sunk head first into the lagoon and, after attempts to get it out failed, it was left with a for-sale sign on it.

Mr Gurunathan said every season whitebaiters used motor vehicles to get to choice whitebaiting sites at the mouth of Waikanae River.

"These genuine fishos are followed by hoons tearing up and down the beach," he said.

Waikanae Estuary Bird Tours spokesman Mik Peryer said responsible whitebaiters drove their vehicles to fishing spots at reasonable speeds but hoons driving four-wheel-drives and trail bikes threatened the wildlife.

"The bloody idiots who drive all over the place and get stuck in the soft sand and do not worry about the birds nesting are the problem."

"Hooning drivers and endangered birds don't mix, but it is very difficult to keep trail bikes and four-wheel-drive vehicles off the sand spit," Mr Peryer said.

Mr Gurunathan said he was concerned genuine fishermen getting to whitebaiting sites at the mouth of Waikanae River were being followed by hoons who used the whitebait season as a cover to tear up and down the beach.

Native birds are not the only inhabitants at the estuary — a seal arrived at a Waimanu lagoon at the estuary about a fortnight ago. The Conservation Department captured it and carried it to nearby Waikanae River last week, but it immediately made its way back to the lagoon and the plentiful fish supply.

Waikanae Estuary Scientific Reserve is an ecologically sensitive area and studies carried out by DOC a few years ago highlighted the damage cars could do to the ecology.

A ban on vehicles during the whitebait season was recommended but this was not introduced after objections from local iwi.

www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5557916/Rare-birds-threatened-by-bloody-idiots

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Spawning areas critical for whitebait

Tiny and often elusive whitebait remain a popular treat
for New Zealanders. Otago Daily Times Balclutha reporter
Helena de Reus visits a whitebaiting stand on the Clutha River.

By HELENA DE REUS - Otago Daily Times | Saturday, 02 September 2011


CLUTHA RIVER: Kaitangata whitebaiter Robbie Owen — “Once you get a spot, you keep it.”
— Photo: Craig Baxter.

IF you drive through Kaitangata and towards Summer Hill, you will find the Clutha River dotted with many different kinds of floating structures. Further down the gravel road you drive down a muddy track, passing cows and the odd farm building, before having to abandon the car to continue on foot.

Here on the Matau branch of the Clutha River, is a section favoured by many whitebaiters, only a few kilometres upstream of the river mouth.

Robbie Owen, of Kaitangata, has been whitebaiting on the river for more than 25 years.

He and his wife Sue have a pontoon on the river and try to get out whitebaiting in weekends and after work during the week.

Mr Owen first got the pontoon and his spot on the river from Sue's uncle when he was 17, and has been going out whitebaiting there ever since.

"Once you get a spot, you keep it. We've got a good spot here with the pontoon and on a good year we can sometimes get about 40 pounds [18kg]."

His son Brad goes whitebaiting too, and on a sunny day with the radio playing in the background and a beer, it could not be much better, Mr Owen said.

Unfortunately when I visit the stand, the weather is poor, the wind is bitter, and the whitebait have gone elsewhere.

But that comes with the territory, and makes it clear why whitebaiters have huts.

Four years ago was the best season they had seen, he said.

"Whitebaiting has its good and bad seasons so you just take it as it comes."

And the best way to eat whitebait? In fritters.

Department of Conservation (DoC) freshwater ranger Pete Ravenscroft said the Clutha River was the "No.1" fishery in Otago, but history suggested the river had been an even more impressive fishery in the past.

Increasing the numbers of whitebait — particularly inanga — in rivers was important to protect the native fish and the whitebaiting pastime.

DoC staff had been working with landowners and councils to build up populations in many New Zealand rivers, including the Clutha, with a particular focus on spawning habitat.

The eggs of inanga — tiny native fish which make up most of the whitebait catch — are laid above the normal water level on the moist, grassy banks of rivers and streams. They tended to favour tributaries of larger rivers, such as the Kaitangata Stream.

In March, about 35 farmers attended a field day at Inch Clutha, near Balclutha, to see how fencing protects these habitats. The field day also looked at environmentally beneficial farm practices farmer Dean Gilbert has put in place. They include cambered lane-ways to keep waste from running into drains, yard water diversion and effluent management.

Otago Regional Council land resources officer Alice Webster said inanga needed grassy edges on which to spawn, so where there was no permanent fence, a simple electrified "hot-wire" kept out stock, protecting the eggs from being trampled or eaten by stock. This also helped improve water quality.

Mr Ravenscroft said inanga numbers would increase if people retained or re-established overhanging vegetation along the upper reaches of rivers to give shade and protection; and if downstream riverbanks were undisturbed during spawning time, from January to March. Unlike other fish, whitebait species lay their eggs among vegetation on stream banks during spring tides, leaving them to develop out of water.

The eggs, laid during the high spring tides from January through to May, take a month to hatch before washing out to sea. March is generally the peak time for inanga to spawn on the Clutha River.

DoC was seeking whitebaiters willing to work with the department to help track changes in whitebait population.

University of Canterbury research has found that tens of millions of whitebait eggs die from exposure to sunlight.

Researchers from the Marine Ecology Research Group of the university have studied the effects of UVB radiation on whitebait eggs. Whitebait lay their eggs almost exclusively under riverbank vegetation in tidal areas. Changes to this vegetation greatly affect whitebait breeding grounds.

The researchers showed that reduction in vegetation height and shading led to increased exposure to UVB radiation, greatly reducing egg survival and eventual production of whitebait.

______________________________________

Tips to help whitebait thrive:

• Fence off riverbanks and the edges of streams from stock.

• Keep waterways clean.

• Retain or re-plant overhanging vegetation.

• Stick to fishing hours — 5am to 8pm.

• Only one net per person.

• Fishers must stay within 10m of net at all times.

• Season August 15th to November 30th.

www.odt.co.nz/regions/south-otago/176074/spawning-areas-critical-whitebait

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Nets set to capture secretive native fish

Geoff Thomas on Fishing

Weekend Herald | Saturday, 03 September 2011


Many whitebaiters live beside the river
for the season. — Photo: APN.

THE WHITEBAIT SEASON is under way around the country, with the West Coast of the South Island opening two days ago. The rest of the country opened on August 15, and while catches have been slow, the fishing usually improves later in spring.

Whitebaiters are traditionally protective about their spots, which are called stands and can change hands for considerable sums.

The whitebaiting culture is contrary to all other fishing. Many people live on the river side in cabins and baches and caravans for the season, and some make a reasonable income.

The regulations are set and administered by the Department of Conservation, because they involve native fish. But outside of the season and certain netting restrictions and hours when fishing is allowed, whitebaiting is wide open to amateur commercialism. There is no quota. Anybody can catch whitebait and sell them on the side of the road. Of course there are legitimate buyers, but there is no limit on volumes.

Theories abound for the lack of whitebait running at certain times. Some say the tides were not big enough to hatch the eggs, which displays a certain understanding of the biology involved.

That in itself is unusual, for the life story of the little fish is unique. They don't run up the rivers to spawn, as is commonly argued. In fact it is the reverse.

What we know as whitebait are the young of five members of the native galaxiid family — inanga (the most common), banded kokopu, koaro, giant kokopu and short-jawed kokopu. Smelt are often found with them, as are the larger, silver, cucumber-smelling fish which aficionados discard.

The name kokopu is commonly seen on streams, where the road sign will say Kaikokopu Stream, which refers to the traditional values of the stream as a fishery for whitebait in times gone by. Kai says food, and kokopu says whitebait.

Apart from smelt, the adults are secretive fish which are rarely seen and live in swamps and fast-flowing streams and rivers. But they need the natural habitat with bush-clad banks and the clearing of bush from catchments has contributed much to the demise of whitebait. This is why the South Island's West Coast is the premier whitebait region, as much of the original bush and forest remains.

The adult fish migrate downstream in autumn to lay eggs on stream-side grasses and reeds on a high tide, and the eggs are exposed until the next spring tide a month later, when they are inundated, hatch and are swept out to sea.

Another factor affecting the fishery is stock grazing on the stream banks, destroying any eggs. After hatching, the tiny fish grow quickly, but many are eaten by birds and other fish. In spring the juvenile fish migrate back up the rivers and streams as the whitebait we know so well.

Of course not everybody can catch their own whitebait, and many fans rely on fish shops where the price creeps higher every year, topping $200 a kilo in some outlets.

But buyer beware: whitebait is a generic term which is also applied to the young of various saltwater fish, and whitebait which is imported from other countries and sold under the familiar name has no resemblance in taste or appearance to what is regarded as real whitebait. If unsure about the origin of the prospective dinner in the shop window, the price is the best indicator.

We once learned a new recipe in Mokau, home of whitebait on the North Island's west coast. Don't put flour in the mix; it goes gluggy. If you want to bulk it up a bit, use a spoonful of breadcrumbs instead. Chopped parsley can also be added to fritters.

Fishing is permitted between 5am and 8pm, or 6am and 9pm when daylight saving applies. The season runs from August 15 to November 30, except for the West Coast of the South Island, where it is September 01 to November 14. On the Chatham Islands, the season runs from December 01 to February 28.

www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10749202

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West Coast's feast of whitebait

By DEIDRE MUSSEN - The Press | Monday, 05 September 2011


PRIZE CATCH: Charlie Eggeling, of Okuru, South Westland,
with a baby's bath and a kerosene tin of whitebait during
the 1950s. — Photo: KEN BIGWOOD ESTATE.

SAYS internationally acclaimed author Keri Hulme, possibly New Zealand's most famous fisher of the world-renowned delicacy: "On the West Coast, catching whitebait isn't a hobby, or a sport, or even a business — it's a religion,"

It was inevitable whitebait became the West Coast's offering for the REAL New Zealand festivals, a nationwide celebration of what Kiwis love the most, timed for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The West Coast Whitebait Festival is packed with events the length of the picturesque region to keep all appetites sated.

One major drawcard is the first large-scale exhibition celebrating whitebait's history.

A remarkable exhibition at Hokitika Museum, WHITEBAIT! The Story of New Zealand's Favourite Fish, takes visitors on an enlightening journey. A short film on Maori kaumatua reminiscing about whitebait, is mixed with its use by European settlers and Chinese gold miners and scientific research and photographs galore. There is even a look at its future.

Museum director Julia Bradshaw says tracing whitebait's rich history has been fascinating. "It's a great West Coast story."

Whitebait was a prized food for Maori, who caught it with sophisticated flax scoop nets.

European settlers followed suit but it was Chinese gold miners who began exporting it in the early 1870s, drying it to send to China. Canning whitebait for export began about two decades later to export it worldwide — to Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Australia.

New Zealand's largest whitebait canning factory was near Haast. Their season record was 60 tonnes.

Bradshaw has uncovered some classic yarns — like the fishers who set up a whitebait operation in remote Big Bay in the 1930s, where sole access was aircraft.

Good old Kiwi ingenuity was tested when they decided to use carrier pigeons to fly to Invercargill to notify the waiting plane that the whitebait catch was ready for collection. But the pigeons failed on their mission — the only one to survive was found in a chicken coop. The plane was late and the huge catch of whitebait went bad. Freezing changed the face of the fishery.

For a contemporary look at whitebaiting, New Zealand photographers Anita Peters and Murray Hedwig spent three years exploring some of the country's major rivers in search of whitebait and their hunters.

The resulting photographs were put onto huge panels for a Christchurch exhibition in in 2009 and will now be displayed at various locations from Westport to Haast.

"We're really thrilled that it's being used again and it's been given to the Coast simply because the Coast is whitebait," Peters says.

"They regard themselves as [living in] the whitebait capital of New Zealand."

And if you fancy catching your own whitebait, the West Coast's whitebait season, which began this month, runs to November 14.

www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/lifestyle/5563626/West-Coasts-feast-of-whitebait

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Toxic algae in Opihi River

By TRACY MILES - South Canterbury Herald | Wednesday, 07 September 2011


FISHING GONE? The Opihi River could
again be poisoned this summer by the
toxic Phormidium algae, with a dry winter
and low river flows concerning fishermen.

THE OPHIHI RIVER could be unusable for fishing, whitebaiting and swimming, and potentially lethal to dogs again this year due to the toxic phormidium algae, unless spring rains are heavy enough to flush the river out.

"I would say it's going to be the same as last year," Temuka pharmacist, fisherman and member of the Opihi Protection Society, Allan Campbell said.

After the dry winter, and unless a decent rainfall happens in spring, the toxic algae could easily flourish again this summer — as it did earlier this year.

"You wouldn't swim in there, you wouldn't drink from it, and certainly no dogs should go in there. Dogs can die within an hour of ingesting [the algae]."

"As a pharmacist here in Temuka I get kids and adults who have swum in the Opihi in summer time coming in with rashes and [pus in their eyes]."

That was before ECan and the Timaru District Council put out warnings and put up signage about the algae on the Opihi last summer.

The three things that allow the algae to flourish are regulated flow, light, and warm temperatures.

Orari-Opihi-Pareora zone committee chairman Dermott O'Sullivan said the committee was well aware of the problem and it was one of a number of water quality issues that it would be giving priority to.

"There is no doubt the problem is accentuated by continual low flows, but it is too early to say that this will continue to be the case into the spring and early summer," Mr O'Sullivan said.

He said Opuha Water is looking at ways of being able to release higher flushing flows in the medium term. Mr Campbell said a decent flood down the river had not happened since 2002.

He said the river was very important to people in the Temuka district. Pharmacy customers have said they have given up on the Opihi and Temuka rivers in favour of the West Coast for whitebaiting.

"It's something people talk about: ‘Why can't my kids go down and swim in the Opihi? Why can't we whitebait, why can't we eat the fish out of it, and what's being done about it?’ It's a huge recreational loss."

People used to picnic by the river and if their children got a mouthful of water while swimming, it did not matter, he said.

"Those days are gone. How do I tell my grandkids that my grandfather taught me to fish [on the Opihi] but I'm sorry, you can't do that any longer?"

When he was a child, people could not wade across the river at State Highway One.

It had huge boulders and was "always a river that had a lot of water in it," even in summer.

Mr Campbell said he was shocked when he returned to live in South Canterbury in 2001 to see the reduced flows in Canterbury rivers.

"It takes 10 years to bugger it up and you can always say it will take 100 years to fix it but I don't think you ever will now."

He said the algae, introduced to the Opihi from other rivers by wading birds or recreational vehicles, was there to stay, but a flush of flood water would roll stones over and clean up the river bed.

Earlier Ecan policies had failed to protect the health of the river, he said.

Pressure on rivers that come from farming was a New Zealand-wide problem.

The Selwyn, the Little Hinds Stream, the Orari and the Pareora Rivers were all affected by farming.

The Opihi problem starts where the Opuha joins it. The Opihi above the Opuha is in better condition, he said.

Controlled flows made it hard to get a decent flood (from headwaters) down the Opihi. Unless a lot of rain fell locally, it did not happen.

The Temuka River does not have the problems of the Opihi because it is not subject to controlled flows, he said.

Mr Campbell said he was not against the Opuha Dam or irrigation, and valued the South Canterbury economy:

"But how can we fix the problem? Because it's very evident it's the Opuha that contaminates the Opihi. I'm sure there has got to be an answer there".

The water being released from the dam is lower-quality bottom feed water. The lake surface water, however, is better quality and releasing this water was potentially the way forward.

"Once the river has been seeded [with phormidium algae] you will never get rid of it, but we can minimise it."

Mr Campbell said a project to create huge holding ponds on the Rangitata River to capture water for irrigation during high flows was an example of an irrigation system that would not control the flow of the river, and therefore one he favoured.

www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/communities/5581552/Toxic-algae-in-Opihi-River

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'Baiting displays on show

The Greymouth Star | Friday, 09 September 2011


ON DISPLAY: G. Doidge Construction contractor Ian Guise puts up
one of the whitebait signs along the flood wall on Mawhera Quay
today. The signs, that depict images of people whitebaiting, have
also been put up at Shantytown and in Kumara as part of the
West Coast whitebait Festival. — Photo: NICHOLAS McBRIDE.

www.greystar.co.nz/content/baiting-displays-show

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Whitebaiter dies near Westport

Whitebaiters tried to revive woman

By MICHELLE COOKE - Fairfax Media | Saturday, 10 September 2011

Twhitebaiters have died on the West Coast within the last 24 hours.

A woman slipped and knocked her head while fishing at the Waimangaroa River mouth, north of Westport this morning, police confirmed.

Granity police Constable John Woodward said the woman, in her forties, was discovered by other whitebaiters who tried unsuccessfully to revive her.

Ambulance staff also rushed to the scene, a St John spokesman said.

He said the woman was found dead upon arrival.

Woodward said police were still trying to reach the woman's next of kin.

Another woman, who had just been whitebaiting, died yesterday afternoon after she fell off her bicycle on to concrete in Westport.

Diana Jane Perriton, 50, had been whitebaiting near the Westport wharf with her partner yesterday afternoon.

She had cycled a short distance before veering over a ledge and falling about 1.5 metres on to concrete in Gladstone Street at about 1.30pm.

She suffered serious head injuries in the fall and was taken to Westport Hospital for treatment before being airlifted to Christchurch. She died en route.

www.stuff.co.nz/national/5600111/Whitebaiter-dies-near-Westport

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Whitebait exhibition hailed

By CHERYL RILEY - The Greymouth Star | Monday, 12 September 2011


OPENING: The crowd at the kick-off of the Whitebait Exhibition
at the Hokitika Museum.

KICK-OFF TIME for New Zealand’s biggest rugby event on Friday night was preceded by kick-off time for the country’s first large-scale exhibition celebrating the nation’s most loved little fish, whitebait.

The crowd that packed into the Hokitika Museum for the opening was larger than expected. The exhibition opening began at 5.30pm, mindful of the start of the Rugby World Cup opener at 7.45pm.

Ngati Waewae kaumatua Ben Hutana thanked museum director Julia Bradshaw and her team before blessing the exhibition.

After Westland Mayor Maureen Pugh and kaumatua Hilda Tainui cut the ribbon the crowd entered the Carnegie Gallery and mingled among the exhibits, where the enigmatic whitebait and equally enigmatic whitebaiters were sensitively portrayed with honour and respect.

In exploring the world of whitebait over the past 10 months, Ms Bradshaw learned the early West Coast whitebaiters were survivors with unequalled Kiwi ingenuity and unequalled understanding of the ‘bush telegraph’ system.

In the corner of a replica whitebaiter’s hut a short film runs depicting West Coast Maori kaumatua reminiscing about whitebaiting, mixed with European settlers, Chinese gold miners and scientific research.

Canterbury University marine science professor David Schiel was at the opening and he was full of praise for the exhibition, saying that apart from being well presented the exhibition was a mine of information.

“There is still a lot to know about whitebait,” he said.

The exhibition will be open at the Carnegie Gallery throughout the Rugby World Cup. Entry is free.

www.greystar.co.nz/content/whitebait-exhibition-hailed

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Breeding incentive for whitebait

By JAY BOREHAM - Taranaki Daily News | Thursday, 15 September 2011


WHITEBAIT-FRIENDLY: One of the fish-
friendly floodgates installed in Taranaki
by the Department of Conservation.
— CAMERON BURNELL/Taranaki Daily News.

WHITEBAIT NUMBERS are expected to climb around Oakura and Waitara rivers following the installation of fish-friendly floodgates.

The Department of Conservation has installed new gates which will stay open longer, allowing more fish to get upstream and breed.

DOC technical support officer Rosemary Miller said whitebaiters would be pleased there would now be more habitat for the whitebait to get to.

"And then more of them will grow up to spawn and produce more whitebait next year."

Not only did the old structures block the whitebait's passage, they provided a smorgasbord for predators like bigger fish and shags as the whitebait congregated below them.

"Life's pretty hard for the old whitebait, they have got to dodge a whole lot of issues," she said.

The floodgates, positioned just above the Oakura and Waitara rivermouths, also allow more salt water to flow upstream, killing freshwater weeds and creating better conditions for whitebait breeding.

People also needed to be aware there were five different species of whitebait, Ms Miller said.

"Some of them can't swim terribly well so they just take up residence in the lower coastal catchments and some swim all the way up to the mountain."

Keen whitebaiters should keep an eye out for other obstructions further up waterways or manmade structures that would stop fish from carrying on up the river, she said.

www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5627142/Breeding-incentive-for-whitebait

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No stopping a whitebait fancier on the day

By LUCY IBBOTSON - Otago Daily Times | Monday, 19 September 2011


FUN: Getting into the whitebait theme are Haast Playgroup
children (from left) Jessica Todd (3) and twins Scott
and Tessa Norton (4). — Photo: by Lucy Ibbotson.

THE LURE of West Coast whitebait proved a powerful promotional tool despite the persistent rain that fell during the town's Haast Whitebait Cook-off Challenge and Family Fun Day on Saturday, with dozens of Haast residents and tourists supporting the inaugural event.

Organised by the Haast Promotions Group and held at the Heartland World Heritage Hotel, the day was part of the broader West Coast Whitebait Festival, which is being run for the first time this year as part of the Real New Zealand Festival.

Children from the Haast Playgroup and Haast Primary School paraded in whitebait-themed costumes, whitebait fritters were made on site and stalls, a chocolate wheel and bouncy castle also featured.

The cook-off, which involved whitebait patty and menu challenge categories for children and adults.

The day concluded with an evening meal, featuring guest speaker John Sturgeon, of Greymouth, a past All Blacks manager and immediate past-president of the New Zealand Rugby Union.


FINAL WORD: Judges in the inaugural Haast Whitebait Cook-off Challenge and Family Fun Day
on Saturday (from left) Kerry Eggeling, of Haast, Dominic Moran, of Christchurch,
Mary Sturgeon, of Greymouth, Carl Baker, of Haast, and John Sturgeon, of Greymouth.
— Photo: by Lucy Ibbotson.

Event co-organiser Moana Kerr said the day was about "putting Haast on the map" and getting the community "working together".

She hoped the event could become an annual highlight on the West Coast calendar.

The group had hoped to resurrect a giant frying pan which was made for a failed world record attempt at making the biggest whitebait patty about 16 years ago in Haast.

However, repair work needed on the pan was considerable, and it was likely it would play a major role in next year's event instead, Mrs Kerr said.

West Coast Whitebait Festival project co-ordinator Dominic Moran, of Christchurch, was a judge in the cook-off component of the event and praised its organisers for their efforts.

"I'm rapt with the way the Haast community has really taken hold of this. It's just absolutely fantastic from my perspective that they've all come in behind it and responded to the call," Mr Moran said.

"I think they've got a chance to really take ownership of whitebait as a festival theme. The community doubles in size during whitebait season and it's a great time to be attracting visitors."

Mr Moran was keen to see the festival return next year.

www.odt.co.nz/your-town/haast/178319/no-stopping-whitebait-fancier-day

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Southern delicacies RWC tourist draw

By JOHN LEWIS - Otago Daily Times | Wednesday, 21 September 2011


DELICACY: Harbour Fish store manager Nancy Anderson with a scoop of West Coast whitebait.
— Photo: Jane Dawber.

RUGBY WORLD CUP tourists looking to try the South's seafood delicacies are creating a "splurge" in revenue for a local seafood distributor.

Harbour Fish owner and manager Aaron Cooper said yesterday whitebait and Karitane crayfish were in good supply, and the reopening of the Bluff oyster beds for the Rugby World Cup was bringing many tourists through the doors.

Whitebait, mainly from the West Coast, was being netted in similar amounts to last year and was selling for $12 per 100 grams.

However, Mr Cooper said Bluff oysters, selling for $26.50 a dozen, were most popular.

The oyster beds had been reopened during the Rugby World Cup, at the Government's request, so tourists could try some of the southern delicacy.

"It's been particularly busy around the weekends when the games are on. We're having a good splurge in revenue."

The West Coast whitebait season runs from September 01 to November 14, and the Bluff oyster season will close on October 23.

www.odt.co.nz/rugby-world-cup-2011/rwc-latest-news/178737/southern-delicacies-rwc-tourist-draw

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Southland's wonderful whitebait

By NICCI MCDOUGALL - The Southland Times | Tuesday, 27 September 2011


IN ABUNDANCE: Southland 'baiters are reporting corker catches.

THE TIDE has turned for some Southland whitebaiters, who are experiencing their "best season ever".

Whitebaiters have been hauling the tiny fish in by the bucketload — in stark contrast to last year's unsuccessful season and despite scientists' concerns of a whitebait decline.

The whitebait season opened in Southland on August 15 and closes on November 30.

Lifelong whitebaiter Eddie Halder, who fishes on the Aparima River, said yesterday the season was his best yet, even though it was only halfway through.

He said he had almost "blitzed" his record of 180 pounds after catching 160 pounds already.

"I've never seen a season like it," Mr Halder said.

David Uitentuis, who fishes on the Waihopai River, said being out in some cold weather was worth it after he caught about 3 pounds yesterday morning.

"I've been whitebaiting most of my life and this is one of the better seasons ... the rivers aren't as bad as everybody thinks," he said.

It was a complete turnaround from last year, he said.

Southland Recreational Whitebaiters Association president Brett Pearce said he had to use a wheelbarrow to transport 60 pounds of whitebait he caught in the Mataura River at the weekend.

"We said 2011 was going to be our season, and it's happening," he said.

While strong catches had whitebaiters smiling, the season had started on a sour note when whitebaiters were sent a letter from Environment Southland telling them the annual monitoring fee had doubled from about $40 to $95 and it had to be paid to cover inspectors' time following up on structures built outside compliance guidelines.

Since then, there had been discussions between parties and plans for better communication had been implemented, Mr Pearce said.

"Now Environment Southland and the Southland Whitebaiters Association are on terms that they'll talk to us," he said.

Both parties agreed things needed to be done differently and they planned to keep in contact and meet each year to discuss what was coming up, he said.

Environment Southland compliance manager Mark Hunter said fees had increased because the level of compliance had dropped in the past year.

If compliance improved, the costs would come down again, he said.

"We're trying to be reasonable and the whitebaiters are trying to be reasonable as well, which is fantastic, it's great. If we talk to each other in the future and make sure we're one on one, then we can avoid some of the conflict in future," Mr Hunter said.

www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5688924/Southlands-wonderful-whitebait

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'Baiting death questions linger

By KATHRYN POWLEY - APNZ | Tuesday, 27 September 2011

THE FAMILY of a former Tauranga woman who died whitebaiting on the West Coast may never know what really happened to her.

Adrienne Helen Dusseldorp, 49, had been living at Waimangaroa, near Westport, with her partner of nine years Stuart Smith, also originally from Tauranga. She was found floating in the Waimangaroa River on September 10 after an early morning solo whitebaiting trip.

The couple had made a bit of extra money catching the delicacy last year. Fresh whitebait is currently selling for about $50 for half a kilo through on-line retailers. Nine people drowned whitebaiting between January 01, 2001 and December 31, 2010 including three on the West Coast, according to Water Safety New Zealand.

Mr Smith said that on the morning she died, Ms Dusseldorp had dropped him off at 5.15am to catch his bus to work as a digger driver at the Stockton Mine.

They had given each other a kiss goodbye and said “see you tonight” before she headed down to the river, aiming to get the set net into the water by about 6am.

“We don’t actually know what went wrong.” Mr Smith said. “She’s tripped over and given herself a good crack on the lips then she’s gone and had a lie down in the shelter. There’s quite a bit of blood there.”

The shelter was where they liked to sit together and have a fry-up on mornings while the net was out. Mr Smith said she had set the net alone 30 or 40 times before so she knew what she was doing.

Mr Smith said: “People saw her about 7.45am down by the net, and then about 8.15am they saw a body floating in the water. They tried resuscitating her but with no joy.”

He thought she must have decided to pull it in and go home after hurting herself.

A preliminary autopsy report had come back showing Ms Dusseldorp’s injury was not due to foul play and the likely cause of death was drowning.

Westport detective Mal Haughey confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances around her death.

The couple had moved to the West Coast from Tauranga five years ago seeking a better lifestyle, and had made the most of the outdoors, enjoying hunting, fishing, camping. She worked as a cleaner and caretaker at the local school and he said all the children loved her.

Mr Smith described her as a caring, outgoing, honest hard worker and mother. “If you needed help with anything, she’d help you. We took in quite a lot of kids who were having problems and took them under our wing.”

Ms Dusseldorp is survived by her parents Bert and Trudy, brother Andrew, four adult children and five grandchildren.

Trudy Dusseldorp said her daughter had been happy in her new life on the Coast.

“It was a tragic accident. You can’t figure it out, and it plays through your mind all the time.”

www.greystar.co.nz/content/baiting-death-questions-linger