When the Whanganui eels were running, back in the years prior to the Tonagriro Hydro electric power scheme, it was possible to take 8000 eels in a single night. Lamprey or piharau were a stample in the diet until the power diversion of the 1950s. Photos of weirs and some of the typical hinaki can be viewed in the Wanganui Museum.

The diversion of the headwaters on Ruapehu for electricity has left the tangata whenua, Ati Haunui a Paparangi with a lower, slower, muddier version of the river that once ran deep and fast and clear. There are still eels to be found but not in those prodigious numbers.

There are tales told by pig hunters, who floated their prize down the tributaries, of eels so large they would wrestle with a carcass and leave the hunter with enough for a salami at the other end.

There's one school left on the lower river, 20 kids and an old fan of The Rodents (she was there when they bought their badges from Chelsea records in 1978 and thereby named the band) is the principal. these kids all catch eels, smoke 'em and eat 'em. If you venture into the wilds to share some music with them, they can take you on an eel hunt of your own and give you a dose of Ati Haunui a Paparangi hospitality.

Contact the principal directly to negotiate an eelman deal: your talents in exchange for a weekend retreat. email: abiding@paradise.net.nz

Story
Beauty: Eeeling
Friday, 6 March 2009

Me and Jahvan went eeling last night.
We took the steel spears we bought from Sunny's. We walked down the river, had a look along the banks. We looked round the rocks and deep holes.

Jahvan saw the first one. It was swimming upstream. Jahvan shone the torch on it. it took off when the lights hit its eyes. He was trying to get the big one but it was gone.

I saw the next one. I had to run up and get it in the head. A long spear saves me falling in the deep holes. I flung it up on the bank and stabbed it again to get the brain and kill it.

I went for a walk while Jahvan was doing the killing. I looked around in this other deep pool. We had a torch each and I shone mine on the clear, green water. The next eel was trying to make a hole in the mud of the bank. He couldn't get away from me, couldn't get away from the light. he tried to hide but I stabbed him.

Jahvan got the last one. He speared his, threw it on the bank and we speared it in the head and checked it in the sack.
We got three big ones on the end. We checked them in a sack and he carried them back home for him co's we don't eat any. It's easy and fun.