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Meet the Fish
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Anchovies | Kokowhawha | Engraulis australis
Native | Least concern
Anchovies are a common fish around the North Island of New Zealand. They are found in large schools on the surface of fish between 8-12cm in length. They are a bright silver colour with an iridescent blue/green back, helping them to counter shade against the light in the ocean. They huddle together in tightly packed schools to escape predators, with many eyes keeping a look out for predators. Anchovies are an important food source for many fish including kahawai, mackerel and kingfish. These dense schools are also predated on by dolphins, seabirds and gannets - with large multispecies foraging associations forming around large schools of anchovies.
Image credit: John Sear (iNaturalist).
Anchovies are being backed by Waiheke Marine Project in 2025
Anchovies are a common fish around the North Island of New Zealand. They are found in large schools on the surface of fish between 8-12cm in length. They are a bright silver colour with an iridescent blue/green back, helping them to counter shade against the light in the ocean. They huddle together in tightly packed schools to escape predators, with many eyes keeping a look out for predators. Anchovies are an important food source for many fish including kahawai, mackerel and kingfish. These dense schools are also predated on by dolphins, seabirds and gannets - with large multispecies foraging associations forming around large schools of anchovies.
Image credit: John Sear (iNaturalist).
Anchovies are being backed by Waiheke Marine Project in 2025
Basking sharks | Reremai | Cetorhinus maximus
Native | Endangered (nationally vulnerable)
Once abundant in some waters around New Zealand, the basking shark, the second largest fish in the world, is now a rare species to spot. In the past, aggregations of hundreds of basking sharks could be found off the coast of Kaikoura and Bank's peninsula. Unlike their toothy cousins, these sharks are filter feeders, swimming through the water filter feeding zooplankton and crustaceans in the water column. They favour coastal reagions with high plankton abundance and productivity.
The major threats to basking sharks are directed fisheries and incidental bycatch in commercial and artisanal (traditional or small scale) fisheries. Basking sharks are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. This means it is illegal to hunt, kill or harm basking sharks within New Zealand’s Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nm limit around New Zealand).
Basking sharks are being backed by VUW Science Collective in 2025!
Once abundant in some waters around New Zealand, the basking shark, the second largest fish in the world, is now a rare species to spot. In the past, aggregations of hundreds of basking sharks could be found off the coast of Kaikoura and Bank's peninsula. Unlike their toothy cousins, these sharks are filter feeders, swimming through the water filter feeding zooplankton and crustaceans in the water column. They favour coastal reagions with high plankton abundance and productivity.
The major threats to basking sharks are directed fisheries and incidental bycatch in commercial and artisanal (traditional or small scale) fisheries. Basking sharks are protected under the Wildlife Act 1953. This means it is illegal to hunt, kill or harm basking sharks within New Zealand’s Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (200 nm limit around New Zealand).
Basking sharks are being backed by VUW Science Collective in 2025!
Manaia | Big-belly seahorse | Hippocampus abdominalis
Native | Vulnerable
Seahorses belong to the syngnathidae family, consisting of pipefishes, seahorses and seadragons! Big-bellied seahorses are the only seahorse species found around the New Zealand coastline and are one of the largest species in the world - growing up to 35cm! This seahorse is found among algae, seagrasses, and rocky reefs in shallow water and is attached to sponges and colonial hydroids in deeper areas. Seahorses are voracious feeders, eating mainly crustaceans, such as shrimp, and other small animals living among the seaweed, such as copepods and amphipods.
Male big bellied seahorses are super-dads, caring 300-700 young at a time in their pouch, caring for up to four broods in summer months.
Big-bellied seahorse are backed by Mountains to Sea Wellington in 2025
Seahorses belong to the syngnathidae family, consisting of pipefishes, seahorses and seadragons! Big-bellied seahorses are the only seahorse species found around the New Zealand coastline and are one of the largest species in the world - growing up to 35cm! This seahorse is found among algae, seagrasses, and rocky reefs in shallow water and is attached to sponges and colonial hydroids in deeper areas. Seahorses are voracious feeders, eating mainly crustaceans, such as shrimp, and other small animals living among the seaweed, such as copepods and amphipods.
Male big bellied seahorses are super-dads, caring 300-700 young at a time in their pouch, caring for up to four broods in summer months.
Big-bellied seahorse are backed by Mountains to Sea Wellington in 2025
Blobfish | Psychrolutes marcidus
Native | Not evaluated
Blobfish have become popular for their distinct appearance and its ability to live at great depths ranging from 600 to 1,200 metres. The pressure at this depth can be 60 to 120 times more than that at sea level, and they have evolved unique anatomy to cope.
They don’t have a swim bladder, full skeleton, muscles or scales. Instead, their bodies are made up of a blob-like substance with a density slightly lower than water allowing them to float above the seafloor. Their feeding strategy is also unique, as the blobfish will sit on the seafloor and wait for crustaceans, molluscs, and urchins to walk into their mouth.
Blobfish are found swimming off the coast of New Zealand, mainland Australia and Tasmania, where they grow slowly and could live up to 130 years. Female blobfish can lay 100,000 eggs in a single nest, usually in rocky areas on top of deep ocean platforms where the water is warmer. Ever watchful parents, they then hover over their eggs until they hatch.
Blobfish are still in need of Campaign Manager for Fish of the Year 2025! Could it be you?
Image: NOAA/MBARI (similar species Psychrolutes phrictus)
Blobfish have become popular for their distinct appearance and its ability to live at great depths ranging from 600 to 1,200 metres. The pressure at this depth can be 60 to 120 times more than that at sea level, and they have evolved unique anatomy to cope.
They don’t have a swim bladder, full skeleton, muscles or scales. Instead, their bodies are made up of a blob-like substance with a density slightly lower than water allowing them to float above the seafloor. Their feeding strategy is also unique, as the blobfish will sit on the seafloor and wait for crustaceans, molluscs, and urchins to walk into their mouth.
Blobfish are found swimming off the coast of New Zealand, mainland Australia and Tasmania, where they grow slowly and could live up to 130 years. Female blobfish can lay 100,000 eggs in a single nest, usually in rocky areas on top of deep ocean platforms where the water is warmer. Ever watchful parents, they then hover over their eggs until they hatch.
Blobfish are still in need of Campaign Manager for Fish of the Year 2025! Could it be you?
Image: NOAA/MBARI (similar species Psychrolutes phrictus)
Blue Cod | Rāwaru | Parapercis colias
Endemic | Least concern, decreasing
Blue cod are bottom-dwelling predators which are endemic to New Zealand and common in Southern wanters to depths of 150m. They eat crustaceans, small fish, kina, worms and shellfish. They change sex from female to male, with males generally larger than females, reaching lengths of 60cm. These males control a large territory which they actively maintain to keep free of males. These cod have thick lipped mouths with rotating eyes, they are inquisitive and often approach snorkelers and divers within marine protected areas. They are a blush green to blue-black with white towards the belly. Larger ones are usually greenish blue while smaller ones are blotchy with brown patches.
They have strong tips on their anal fins which provide support when they’re resting on the ocean floor.
Blue cod are still in need of Campaign Manager for Fish of the Year 2025! Could it be you?
Blue cod are bottom-dwelling predators which are endemic to New Zealand and common in Southern wanters to depths of 150m. They eat crustaceans, small fish, kina, worms and shellfish. They change sex from female to male, with males generally larger than females, reaching lengths of 60cm. These males control a large territory which they actively maintain to keep free of males. These cod have thick lipped mouths with rotating eyes, they are inquisitive and often approach snorkelers and divers within marine protected areas. They are a blush green to blue-black with white towards the belly. Larger ones are usually greenish blue while smaller ones are blotchy with brown patches.
They have strong tips on their anal fins which provide support when they’re resting on the ocean floor.
Blue cod are still in need of Campaign Manager for Fish of the Year 2025! Could it be you?
Blue maomao | Scorpis violaceus
Native | Not evaluated
Blue maomao are schooling fish that stay close to the shore and inhabit rocky reefs to depths of 30m. When young, Blue Maomao are not blue yet but they are grey with a yellow anal fin. As they grow bigger, they become more blue and their anal fin loses its yellow colour. The young fish are found in very shallow water behind boulders and in crevices in the wave zone, often in company of young Sweep that look very much alike.
The iconic blue mao mao arch at the Poor Knights is a must-see destination for any kiwi thanks to the large schools of blue mao mao that congregate there, creating a magnificently bright blue wonderland, as the light floods in. Safety in numbers is key. Blue mao mao move in schools to make it harder for predators to pick them off.
Blue maomao are being backed by Young Ocean Explorers in 2025!
Blue maomao are schooling fish that stay close to the shore and inhabit rocky reefs to depths of 30m. When young, Blue Maomao are not blue yet but they are grey with a yellow anal fin. As they grow bigger, they become more blue and their anal fin loses its yellow colour. The young fish are found in very shallow water behind boulders and in crevices in the wave zone, often in company of young Sweep that look very much alike.
The iconic blue mao mao arch at the Poor Knights is a must-see destination for any kiwi thanks to the large schools of blue mao mao that congregate there, creating a magnificently bright blue wonderland, as the light floods in. Safety in numbers is key. Blue mao mao move in schools to make it harder for predators to pick them off.
Blue maomao are being backed by Young Ocean Explorers in 2025!
Blue-eyed triplefin | Ruanoho | Notoclinops segmentatus
Endemic | Not evaluated
Triplefin fishes are the most abundant of New Zealand’s shallow-water subtidal reef fish. The blue-eyed triplefin is endemic to New Zealand and is easily recognisable by its iridescent blue eyes and red bands. It is a small ~6cm long fish which can be found in rocky reefs on steep slopes and overhangs from Cape Reinga to the Stewart Island! During breeding season, the males become brighter and set up nests in small depressions on rock faces. The males will often guard eggs from several females - super dad! There are 27 endemic species of triplefins in New Zealand! We are the triplefin capital of the world, with ~⅙ of all triplefin species being only found in New Zealand.
Blue eyed triplefin are being backed by Revive Our Gulf in 2025!
Image credit: Paul Caiger
Triplefin fishes are the most abundant of New Zealand’s shallow-water subtidal reef fish. The blue-eyed triplefin is endemic to New Zealand and is easily recognisable by its iridescent blue eyes and red bands. It is a small ~6cm long fish which can be found in rocky reefs on steep slopes and overhangs from Cape Reinga to the Stewart Island! During breeding season, the males become brighter and set up nests in small depressions on rock faces. The males will often guard eggs from several females - super dad! There are 27 endemic species of triplefins in New Zealand! We are the triplefin capital of the world, with ~⅙ of all triplefin species being only found in New Zealand.
Blue eyed triplefin are being backed by Revive Our Gulf in 2025!
Image credit: Paul Caiger
Butterfish | Mararī / Kōeaea | Odax Pullus
Endemic | Least concern
These kelp forest dwellers are found throughout New Zealand's rocky reefs and are endemic - only found in New Zealand. Butterfish are easily identified by their wavy mohawk of broad sweeping dorsal and anal fins which help them blend into the kelp around them. They are all born female, with the biggest and boldest females transitioning to become males and protect the harem and territory, existing in groups consisting of one male and several females. Females are brown-olive green whereas males are dark green to dark blue-black. Butterfish rely on healthy, balanced reefs with plenty of kelp, feeding mainly on brown algae like carpophyllum. As more of our rocky reefs decline in health and become kina barrens, butterfish habitats disappear. Butterfish are omnivorous, eating kelp and kelp-dwelling microorganisms. They are ~40 cm long, with males larger than females.
Butterfish
These kelp forest dwellers are found throughout New Zealand's rocky reefs and are endemic - only found in New Zealand. Butterfish are easily identified by their wavy mohawk of broad sweeping dorsal and anal fins which help them blend into the kelp around them. They are all born female, with the biggest and boldest females transitioning to become males and protect the harem and territory, existing in groups consisting of one male and several females. Females are brown-olive green whereas males are dark green to dark blue-black. Butterfish rely on healthy, balanced reefs with plenty of kelp, feeding mainly on brown algae like carpophyllum. As more of our rocky reefs decline in health and become kina barrens, butterfish habitats disappear. Butterfish are omnivorous, eating kelp and kelp-dwelling microorganisms. They are ~40 cm long, with males larger than females.
Butterfish
Canterbury Mudfish | Kōwaro | Neochanna burrowsius
Endemic | Critically Endangered (nationally critical)
The Canterbury mudfish, or kōwaro, are the most threatened mudfish species native to New Zealalnd and are listed as Threatened (Nationally Critical) under the NZ Threat Classification System. The kōwaro typically have 4 or 5 pelvic fin rays, while other galaxids are known to have 7.
This freshwater species is found in a number of waterways within the Canterbury Plains between the Ashley River and the Waitaki River. Kōwaro can be found in a range of habitats from small springs, wetlands, and willow bogs but also other modified habitats like water races, roadside drains and farm ponds. They are not well adapted to surviving periods of habitat desiccation and can be prone to drying out over the summer period.
Canterbury mudfish are able to reproduce in their first year and are as small as 55 mm long, but their reproductive rates peak above 100 mm where a female can produce 2000 eggs!
Kōwaro are being backed by the QEII Nationa Trust in 2025!
Image: Department of Conservation (CC BY)
The Canterbury mudfish, or kōwaro, are the most threatened mudfish species native to New Zealalnd and are listed as Threatened (Nationally Critical) under the NZ Threat Classification System. The kōwaro typically have 4 or 5 pelvic fin rays, while other galaxids are known to have 7.
This freshwater species is found in a number of waterways within the Canterbury Plains between the Ashley River and the Waitaki River. Kōwaro can be found in a range of habitats from small springs, wetlands, and willow bogs but also other modified habitats like water races, roadside drains and farm ponds. They are not well adapted to surviving periods of habitat desiccation and can be prone to drying out over the summer period.
Canterbury mudfish are able to reproduce in their first year and are as small as 55 mm long, but their reproductive rates peak above 100 mm where a female can produce 2000 eggs!
Kōwaro are being backed by the QEII Nationa Trust in 2025!
Image: Department of Conservation (CC BY)
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