![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/4LL0G0V_Want_salmon_to_remain_in_headwaters_as_long_as_possible_as_flood_prone_rivers_in_spring_forc.jpeg\")
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\nThe small farming township of Rakaia’s river was once internationally-recognised for its abundant sea-run chinook salmon and other aquatic species, but population numbers have since drastically declined.
\nPhoto: Steve Terry\n<\/p>\n
It’s hoped a new $1.7 million wetland in Mid Canterbury will improve the once-thriving salmon run in the Rakaia River.<\/p>\n
For the past 70 years, Glenariffe Stream – considered a key salmon-spawning site in the braided river – has been diverted to drain farmland.<\/p>\n
The stream contributed around 18 percent of the wild chinook salmon that returned to spawn in the river.<\/p>\n
For the small farming township of Rakaia, south of Christchurch, its river was once internationally-recognised for its abundant sea-run chinook salmon and other aquatic species, but population numbers have since drastically declined<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now, three large high country farms have retired hundreds of hectares of land to return the river’s eastern branch to its original course, pre-agricultural expansion.<\/p>\n Forty-four hectares of the wetland habitat have also been restored.<\/p>\n With Fish and Game the project lead, its North Canterbury project manager, Steve Terry, said [https:\/\/www.rnz.co.nz\/news\/political\/571617\/fish-and-game-family-fishing-licences-to-undergo-changes-to-remove-historic-anomaly<\/p>\n protecting spawning habitat] was one of the few levers available to help the fishery recover.<\/p>\n “Salmon numbers are at historic lows not just in Canterbury but across New Zealand’s East Coast rivers, with unfavourable, warmer ocean conditions among the key drivers of decline.”<\/p>\n He said while the ocean and climate could not be controlled, the efforts would ensure that when salmon do return to the Rakaia to spawn, their offspring have the best possible habitat<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Glenariffe Stream is one of the river’s most significant spawning tributaries, and for 70 years it simply wasn’t functioning as it should. Getting it back to its natural course is a major step forward for the fishery,” Terry said.<\/p>\n The McIntyre wetland project was named after the late James McIntyre, who bequeathed $550,000 to the project.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, taxpayers fronted $784,000 towards the three-year project under the Ministry for the Environment’s freshwater improvement fund.<\/p>\n Double Hill Station<\/a> retired 77 hectares of wetlands and waterways, Redcliffes Station stopped farming on 59 hectares of wetlands and native scrub, and a 200-hectare QEII covenant protecting the Hydra Waters for Mount Algidus Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n Distressed anglers were raising the alarm about the Rakaia’s abysmal fish stocks<\/a> and degraded river quality and flow, and were currently limited to catching just one salmon.<\/p>\n \nThe Rakaia River. For the first time in 40 years, organisers of the annual Rakaia River Fishing competition did not weigh in any fish to allow the fishery to recover.<\/p>\n![\"Ashburton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/4KC6Q3S_Rakaia_River_mouth_DJI_0035_jpg.jpeg\")
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\nPhoto: Supplied\n<\/p>\n