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Kōrero: Eels

Elvers, Karāpiro spillway

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Elvers, Karāpiro spillway

Once glass eels enter fresh water they become darker, and are known as elvers. They swim upriver to find a home in a river, stream, lake or pond. Waterfalls and rapids are no barrier – elvers have a remarkable climbing ability and can even ascend the walls of some hydroelectric dams. In many places ‘eel passes’ have been built to help them get through.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Department of Conservation

Reference: 10053119

by Theo Stephens

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Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Paddy Ryan, Eels – Life cycle and breeding grounds, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/10127/elvers-karapiro-spillway (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Paddy Ryan, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.