DSC_1496 Feral goldfish (Carassius auratus) were first introduced to New Zealand in the 1860's, they are now widespread and well established. Wild populations lack the larger fins, protruding eyes and colouration of aquarium specimens, reverting to an olive-bronze to deep gold colour. Goldfish were known to Maori as morihana – a transliteration of the name 'Morrison' after the man who introduced goldfish into the Taupo area. For some time morihana were a food for Rotorua Maori. Whangamarino River *
DSC_1533 Feral goldfish (Carassius auratus) were first introduced to New Zealand in the 1860's, they are now widespread and well established. Here fishermen try their luck in the Whangamarino River *
DSC_2741 Koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) a decorative form of the common carp, selectively bred for colour, and first developed In the Niigata region of Japan in the 1820s. Although popular as pond fish, they have become one of the most invasive fish species worldwide. In NZ Koi have been spread through illegal stocking into various lakes and ponds in the North Island from the 1980s onwards. They feed by vacuuming up lakebed detritus and blowing unwanted sediments back out, making water turbid which reduces macrophytes, and degrades lake habitats. Lake Waikare *
