Cockbullies (Triplefins) represented a large proportion of the prey in particular in the Catlins (95%) and at Allans Beach (71%), but also further north at Kaikoura (8%) and Leigh (22%). Prior to this study, the diet of kororā was only known in the southeast of New Zealand and no Cockabullies were ever recorded there. It is likely that the previously used methods of stomach pumping and hard-parts analysis (bones and otoliths) did not pick up the presence of Cockabullies. They have now been recorded in every season and may be significantly more important in the diet than suspected so far, especially in the south.

New fish families that crossed the 10% threshold:

• Bullies, Eleotridae family

• Moray eels, Muraenidae family

New non-fish families that crossed the 10% threshold:

• Cnidarians (Phylum): Gelata: jellyfish and hydras

• Tunicates, Salpidae family: sea squirts, salps