Where have the banded kokopu gone from Wai manawa

Over a long period, Dr Kit Hustler was a head of department at Northcote College. He led a very innovative programme training young students the principle of scientific research using the study of the stream life in Le Roys Bush and Kauri Glen as the object of study. This post is a placeholder for a longer article at some stage.

But in honour of Dr Hustler's work, the Le Roys Bush committee has decided to name the pool at the bottom of the steps from 251 Hinemoa Street as the "Kit Hustler Pool". It was here that Kit Hustler used to run class projects for his students, studying the fish population and behaviour.

It was at this pool in particular where Kit and his students videoed banded kokopu leaping from the pool to take live bait from their hands during daylight.

This video is 18 minutes long; it shows a researcher placing live worms on the edge of the pool and the kokopu watching, waiting then pouncing. You'll see the pecking order where bigger fish chase the smaller ones away. In the following still from the video, a kokopu is waiting to pounce on the little worm just above on the bank.

At one time this pool had dozens of fish of all ages. A tributary stream a few hundred metres further down used to have about 500 kokopu. Then suddenly they disappeared - leaving only a few.

For more information about this, see our old website: sites.google.com/view/le-roys-bush-auckland/our-projects/native-fish-in-le-roys-lsb If you were one of Dr Hustler's students, we'd love to hear your story. Please email us at LeRoysBush@gmail.com