Te Waikoropupu Springs Reserve in Golden Bay - along with Nelson Lakes National Park’s Blue Lake - boast the clearest water, not just in the country – but in the world.
Pupu Springs are the largest springs in New Zealand, fed by groundwater from massive aquifers. They are a great tourist attraction – but like all of New Zealand’s freshwater systems they are under pressure. There’s demand for spring water for bottling, as well as the local salmon farm, and Golden Bay as a whole is experiencing a rapidly growing demand for irrigation for farming.
University of Otago science communication student Lucy Coyle investigates the biological and cultural values of the springs.
Pupu springs Photo: Public Domain
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