A programme of research is introduced on the effects on stream ecosystems of land‐use change from native forest to pasture, and subsequent re‐afforestation with exotic pine plantations. The results detailed in the 11 accompanying papers conclude that land‐use change has had strong effects on many key physical, chemical, and biological aspects of stream ecosystems in and adjacent to Whatawhata Research Centre, near Hamilton, New Zealand. Six of these papers compare streams, draining catchments with similar topography, geology, and soils, to investigate land‐use effects on stream lighting, water quality, channel morphology, benthic and hyporheic habitat and faunas, fish, and food webs. Two papers investigate hypotheses on the influence of shade and crayfish using streamside mesocosms. Finally, three papers use the experimental sites to evaluate methods for studying crayfish populations, stream carbon pathways, and a stream temperature model. These studies provide a comprehensive description of land‐use effects on physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams and contribute to the basis for future long‐term ecological research on the effects on streams of sustainable land management practices.