An open day is being held in Murupara next Tuesday for the Rangitaiki community to learn about taking care of longfin eel (tuna) in their local wetlands and streams.

The Wetlands, Waterways and Tuna (longfin eel) Open Day is being organised by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and hosted at the Department of Conservation Office, on State Highway 38, Murupara.

Longfin eel (tuna). Photo: John Clayton.

There will be two identical tutorial sessions offered during the day – the first from 10.30am until 12pm and the other from 1pm until 2.30pm.

Each will be followed by a free sausage sizzle.

BOPRC land management officer Milly Farquhar hopes locals will come along to find out more about tuna and how they can help this declining taonga (treasure), by preserving wetland and stream habitat.

'The aim of the open day is to give people an appreciation of the importance of our precious longfin eel. It's an opportunity for landowners to learn about the assistance that's available to help them look after their waterways.”

Local kaumatua Bill Kerrison will be speaking at the event, accompanied by experts from Fish and Game New Zealand and the regional council.

'Our team of specialists will share some great ideas and simple things that locals can do to help keep their waterways healthy and conserve tuna [eels], now and for future generations,” says Milly.

'We'll be delivering the same information at each tutorial session, so people can choose which time slot suits them best.”