Damned eels is our love song to the tuna (eels) of Aotearoa New Zealand, their mysterious life history and their plight in our obstructive waterways.
After spending most of their lives in awa (rivers) and roto (lakes), tuna begin an enormous journey away from our shores, ending up somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. No one knows exactly where. Here they will reproduce for the first and only time in their life.
That is, if they make it that far. Our awa are full of obstacles for tuna. Damns, weirs, floodgates and other barriers often prevent them from reaching the ocean. If they do make it out to breed, their young will have to face these barriers on their return.
We’re excited to share this song and hope it encourages conversations and action to support these enigmatic and beautiful creatures.
