New Zealand stream ecosystems differ from many of their North American counterparts, on which general stream ecosystem models are based, in several ways. In New Zealand, large particle detritivores (shredders) are poorly represented, and the dominant invertebrates are browsers which feed on fine particulate organic matter and stone‐surface organic layers. In contrast with the river continuum concept of Vannote et al. (Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 37:130–137, 1980), representation of functional feeding groups shows little change downstream and a temporal continuum of synchronous species replacements is not found. Many common benthic invertebrates are ecologically flexible species with poorly synchronised life histories. These differences appear to be associated with the non‐retentive, climatically unpredictable nature of the stream environment. The idea that stream communities are highly structured entities is questioned, as is the generality of the river continuum concept.