A fish named Gollum took centre stage at the Nevis River
hearings yesterday.
The Nevis contained a unique population of galaxiid fish,
freshwater ecologist Richard Allibone told a special tribunal
appointed to consider an amendment to the water conservation
order on the river.
The fish - Gollum galaxias - was the only native fish
species in the Nevis.
Asked by tribunal member Rauru Kirikiri about the name of the
fish, Dr Allibone said it was a small, dark, big-eyed
creature.
"It's an appropriate name."
The existing water conservation order did not recognise this
native fishery value.
The fish were classified as a threatened species and the
Nevis population was an outstanding one, because of its
unique characteristics, he said.
Tribunal chairman Richard Fowler asked if it was a species
that had been "frozen in time" and Dr Allibone said it was a
very old species.
A hydro development in the Nevis would inundate the
galaxiid's habitat, Dr Allibone said.
A prohibition on damming would reduce the risk of one of the
main predators of the fish becoming established.
Six threatened plants, including three "acutely threatened"
plants, were growing in the Nevis valley.
"The lower Nevis valley retains some of the least modified
areas of critically endangered environments in New Zealand,"
he said.
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