Canterbury residents and Fish and Game have been busy rescuing trapped trout and native eels in some of the region's disappearing rivers.
After three very dry years, parts of the Selwyn River south of Christchurch, and the Ashley River are drying up.
Native eels and adult whitebait are being stranded in muddy pools, after the Selwyn River left them behind.
At least 30 volunteers were out early on Tuesday working together to get the fish to the safety of nearby Lake Ellesmere.
"This river's dying and all these critters are dying with it," says local resident Neville Jones.
Environment Canterbury put the call out for help after three straight seasons of drought along the east coast.
"We're using whitebait fishing nets, and hands, and feet, and everything we've got, to get in under the ledges, to drive the fish into the open, and that's where we catch them," says Environment Canterbury's Johannes Welsch.
Local stream Coe's Ford used to be one the most popular swimming and fishing spots in Canterbury.
Today, it's been reduced to a series of muddy pools.
A similar operation run by Fish and Game on the Ashley River was hit by the worst case scenario, with volunteers rescuing just four brown trout.
"Three years ago we salvaged well over a thousand trout, and similar number of eels and bullies. Last year we found 100 and this year we're down to the odd fish," said Fish and Game Officer Steve Terry.
Fisherman Steve Burke says it's the worst season he's seen in 40 years.
"This particular river is in its death throes, there's nothing left."
Volunteers did manage to salvage several hundred eels from the Selwyn River.
Local man Shannon Bray says he has lost hope in the system.
"This used to be our river, we used to be able to come and swim down here, now, you're picking crap out of your teeth."
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