Five new species are described from the Southern Island, New Zealand, i.e. Zelandothyas hyporheica, Notopanisus shewell, Australiobates lacustris, Arrenurus longipetiolatus and A. schuckardi. Eylais waikawae Stout is considered a junior synonym of E. schauinslandi Koenike. Limnochares australica is recorded for the first time for New Zealand. Finally, some remarks are made on the water mites from lentic habitats.