Can Wellington's underground urban streams once again see the light?

Below our feet is a hidden world, a network of streams running through a false habitat of pipes and watercourses.

They’ve been redirected and paved over, their populations of fish and plants confined to the dark where once sun filtered through, allowing streets, footpaths and houses to be built overtop.

Put simply, Wellington’s urban streams are in trouble. About 95% of them are now piped underground, treated like drains for household waste and industrial pollution.

Almost all Wellington’s streams have no better than a C grade for water quality, according to regional council data. People don’t know their stories, or even that they exist.

View the full Stuff article here.