Southland's lakes have scored well, following preliminary sampling and computer modelling of New Zealand's lakes, by Lakes380.

Lakes380 is an ambitious 5-year project to study the health of New Zealand's lakes that are over 1 hectare in size.

It is lead by Marcus Vandergoes, a paleoecologist from the government owned GNS Science and Susie Wood, a freshwater scientist and molecular ecologist from the Cawthron Institute, New Zealand's largest independent science organisation.

The projects initial analysis has found that nearly 50% of New Zealand's lakes were however in a poor or worse condition, with the vast majority of those in the North Island and in low lying regions with highly modified catchments.

Started in 2017, Lakes380 aims to sample and analyse 10% of New Zealand's 3800 larger lakes.

Active field work began in 2018 with around 200 lakes being monitored and data up to 30 years old collected.

It is eventually hoped that 1000 years of lake data will be collected, including environmental, social and cultural histories, which project organisers hope will contribute new knowledge and ensure New Zealand's lakes are valued and protected for generations to come.

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