Monitoring Te Mana o Te Wai: Integrating cultural health with conventional freshwater biomonitoring

In this study, we collected eDNA samples for metabarcoding in the Kuratau River catchment (Lake Taupo, North Island, Aotearoa New Zealand). This research occurred in the rohe (territory) of Ngaati Tuuwharetoa and ngaa hapuu o Ngaati Parekawa, Ngaati Manunui, Puukawa, Puketapu, and Ngaati Hinemihi. Ten stream sites were sampled for eDNA in March-April 2023. At each site, six replicates of 1 L stream water were filtered on a 1.2-micrometre, 30 mm cellulose acetate syringe filter.