As New Zealand's indigenous fish fauna were not suitable for angling, European and American fish have been introduced. Those successfully acclimatised include the following species:
(Salmo trutta). Browns from Great Britain were established in Tasmania in 1864. A few browns were hatched at Christchurch from a consignment of Tasmanian eggs received in 1867, but it is doubtful whether any were released. The first successful liberation is regarded as that made in the Water of Leith, Dunedin, in 1869, when trout hatched from Tasmanian eggs, received in 1867, were released. Further shipments of browns from Tasmania during the 1870s, and other varieties, such as Loch Leven and sea trout from Great Britain, were hatched and released throughout New Zealand.
(Salmo gairdnerii). It appears this fish was introduced from California, where it is indigenous, by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society in 1877. The society received further consignments of eggs in 1883. The eggs were taken from steelheads (sea-run fish) from the Russian River. The fish were liberated in the Auckland district initially, later in the Rotorua lakes, and in 1903 in Lake Taupo. Subsequently rainbow eggs from the McLeod and Shasta Rivers were hatched at Auckland and Christchurch. The progeny of the rainbow and steelheads were released throughout New Zealand.
(Onchorhynchus tschawytcha). Between 1875 and 1880 unsuccessful attempts were made to establish quinnat, native to the Pacific coast of Canada and the northern United States, but large-scale releases into the Waitaki River system ex the Hakataramea hatchery from 1901 to 1942 were successful. The first adults returned from the sea in 1905. From the Waitaki, quinnat spread north as far as the Waiau by about 1920. It appears the Clutha River and Lake Okarito stocks resulted from single liberations made in 1917 and 1935 respectively.
(Salmo salar). Salmon eggs were first imported in 1868, and until about 1911 many shipments of eggs from Great Britain, the Rhine, and North America were received. Although liberations were made in many river systems, they became established only in the Te Anau – Manapouri – Waiau River watershed.
(Perca fluvitalis). Perch were introduced in 1868 and have been released in many waters throughout New Zealand. They prefer still or sluggish water and are common in the Otago, Wellington, and Taranaki Districts.
(Salvelinus fontinalis). In 1877 shipments of this char were received at Christchurch and Auckland, but earlier consignments could have been made to Christchurch. A native of the east coast of North America, these fish are also called brook trout. Fontinalis were liberated in many areas, but today only isolated populations are present, mainly in the Hinds River, Lake Emily, and the Hinemaiaia Dam, near Lake Taupo, where they were liberated recently.
(Cristivomer namaycush). Mackinaw, or the Great Lakes Char, were introduced in 1906 and hatched at Christchurch. They are present in Lake Pearson, Canterbury, but other liberations appear to have been unsuccessful.
(Carassius carassius). Carp appear to have been introduced about 1867 and are present in many waters throughout New Zealand, but principally in the Rotorua and Waikato hydro lakes and Lake Taupo.
Other, but less successful introductions, have included tench (Tinca tinca), still present in sluggish rivers near Oamaru; and bullheads (Amerius catus) in Lake Mahinapua and the lower Waikato River and adjacent lakes; sockeye salmon (Onchorhynchus nerka), which are present as a land-locked stock in Lake Ohau; and the mosquito fish (Gambusia affinis) in Lake Ngatu, North Auckland.
Unsuccessful attempts to acclimatise many other species, such as whitefish, lake herring, gudgeon, dace, etc., have been made.
by Brian Turnbull Cunningham, B.SC., Senior Fishery Officer, Marine Department, Wellington.