A study carried out by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research has found that wild kai forms are only a small proportion of the diet with in Māori communities. The study also involved the Te Arawa Lakes Trust which centred on the Rotorua lakes. In particular the research looked at how high levels of naturally occurring metals, such as mercury and arsenic were produced by Rotorua's geothermal activity affected fish and shellfish in the area.  It found such metals in wild kai, such as koura (crayfish), watercress, eel and trout, from that area can pose a risk to people's health if eaten too frequently.  Survey results showed fish harvested from the wild made up only a small fraction (13 per cent) of fish eaten by Te Arawa iwi members, although their overall fish consumption was three times the national average. 

Kua puta tētahi rangahau e kii ana, he wāhanga iti to ngā kai a te Māori ki roto i ngā kai e whāngai ki roto i ngā hapori Māori o ēnei rā.  He rangahau tēnei i kōkirihia e te rōpū o Taihoro Nukurangi me te poari kaitiaki mo ngā roto moana o Te Arawa, he wāhanga nui to tēnei rangahau i hāngai ana ki ngā roto moana o Te Arawa.  Ko te titiro ki te teiteitanga o ngā puia e uru ana ki roto i te wai o ngā roto moana nei, ā, mena he kino tērā ahua, he aha rānei, mena rā ka pā ki ngā momo kai kei roto i te roto moana.  Mena ka pā ki ngā koura, wātakerehi, tuna, ika rānei.