This podcast episode of the Guardian’s Full Story explores the environmental and cultural significance of New Zealand’s braided rivers and the growing tensions around how they should be managed.Braided rivers are rare natural systems characterised by multiple shifting channels that weave across wide riverbeds.

Their constantly changing patterns are shaped by rainfall, sediment flows and glacial melt, making them both ecologically rich and highly dynamic landscapes.Journalist Reged Ahmad speaks with New Zealand correspondent Eva Corlett about the increasing pressures placed on these river systems.

In many regions, communities have attempted to control and stabilise the rivers through engineering works, farming expansion and flood protection measures.

While these interventions aim to protect infrastructure and agricultural land, they often disrupt the natural flow of the rivers and alter their ecological balance.The episode highlights the concerns of Māori tribes, for whom these waterways hold deep cultural, spiritual and historical importance.

Many iwi are alarmed by the environmental degradation they are witnessing as river systems are increasingly confined and managed in ways that limit their natural movement.This tension reflects broader debates in New Zealand about how to balance economic development, land use and environmental protection.

The discussion also touches on the broader climate and environmental context, including increased flood risks and changing glacial conditions that further complicate river management.

As climate pressures intensify, the question of whether to ‘tame’ these rivers or allow them to evolve naturally becomes more urgent, raising important questions about sustainability, cultural respect and long-term ecological resilience.