34 Orthocladiinae) and snails which can be found in pristine or poor-quality streams or within poor water / habitat quality (i.e., they are tolerant of poorer water quality and habitat conditions). The Mataura Stream had a diverse range of EPT taxa (Table 12), with Aoteapsyche notably abundant, and which is indicative of reasonable water quality and instream habitat. The unnamed tributary 2 contained a comparatively reduced range of EPT taxa and most of the species richness was made up of low abundance of caddisflies (Hydrobioisis, Costachorema, Pycnocentria and Oxyethira). The MCI and SQMCI scores for the Mataura Stream were both indicative of “good” water and/or habitat quality. The MCI score for the unnamed tributary 2 suggests “fair” water and/or habitat quality, while the SQMCI score suggests “poor” water and/or habitat quality (Stark & Maxted 2007)8. Appendix 2B of the NOF provides for the preparation of attributes requiring action plans and include attribute bands for the MCI and QMCI. We acknowledge that our results represent a single survey, but the results indicate that Mataura Stream falls into Attribute band C, while for the unnamed tributary 2, the MCI shows the watercourse is in Attribute band C but falls below the NBL for QMCI (Table 12). Table 12: Summary of macroinvertebrate metrics from the Mataura Stream catchment and comparison with NOF. Metric Site Mataura Stream (July 2020) Unnamed tributary 2 (January 2021) Taxonomic richness 26 29 No. of EPT taxa 13 6 Percent EPT 50 21 MCI 109.2 96.9 SQMCI 5.4 3.2 MCI NOF Action Plan Attribute Band# Band C Band C SQMCI NOF Action Plan Attribute Band# Band C Band D (Below NBL^) #Attributes requiring action plans are provided for by the NOF (NPSFM, Chapter 2B). ^NBL = National Bottom Line. 7.7.5 Fish Communities Within unnamed tributary 2, three shortfin eels were captured (size range from 300 – 500 mm in length) while four eels were not captured (i.e., unidentified eels). In addition, a fish species (suspected Galaxias species) was also seen during the fish survey. Shortfin eel has a conservation status of not threatened (DOC 2018a). Several kōura (Paranephrops planifrons) were also caught during electric fishing; we note that kōura are listed as non-threatened (DOC 2018b). Annual fish surveys are conducted in Mataura Stream as part of OGNZL’s permit to discharge treated water to the Ohinemuri River. The survey site is located within the same (or slightly adjacent) reach where this assessment was conducted. Fishing methods include three passes using an electric fishing machine and is similar to methods outlined in Joy et al. (2013). 8 Interpretation of the classification of MCI and QMCI scores is provided in Table 3-3 of Appendix 3 of this report.
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