Fish of the Year 2026

This year, the Hundertwasser Art Centre is proud to be a Campaign Manager for Fish of the Year 2026. Our chosen fish is the īnanga, a small but mighty native fish that is under threat.

Īnanga are culturally significant, vital to healthy rivers, wetlands, and estuaries, and face challenges including:

• Habitat loss – eggs laid in riverside grasses are vulnerable to mowing, grazing, and development

• River modification – draining wetlands, straightening streams, and hard engineering of riverbanks

• Water quality degradation – sediment and pollution make survival harder

• Predation – rats, mice, and other pressures

When we restore wetlands, protect riverbanks, and plant native vegetation, īnanga populations bounce back — supporting healthier waterways for all.

Healthy īnanga = healthy rivers.

Why We Chose Īnanga

The īnanga (Galaxias maculatus) may be small and silvery, but it plays a key role in our freshwater ecosystems. Their incredible annual journey between rivers and the sea, laying eggs in riverside grasses, makes them a symbol of the delicate connection between land, water, and people.

By raising awareness of this threatened species, we also highlight local conservation initiatives, including the Northland Īnanga Spawning Habitat Restoration Project (NĪSHRP) led by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust.

 How to Help

You can support īnanga by:

• Voting for īnanga in Fish of the Year 2026

• Protecting wetlands and planting native vegetation

• Supporting clean rivers and biodiversity