Filamentous algae nutrient scrubbers (FANS) are ecologically engineered flow-ways that have recently been proposed as a potential on-farm method to treat agricultural drainage in New Zealand. The effectiveness of FANS systems to remove nutrients from polluted waters and to produce algal biomass as a harvestable by-product is heavily influenced by operational parameters. As filamentous algae grow on a flow-way, the thickness of the algal biomass increases and begins to reduce light penetration and nutrient assimilation. Therefore, periodic harvesting of the accumulated algal biomass plays a key role in determining the biomass production and nutrient removal performance of FANS systems. The overall aim of this study was to investigate the influence of harvest frequency and harvest regime on biomass productivity and nutrient removal of an outdoor FANS system. The FANS system used in this study consisted of six flow-ways that were split into two sets of triplicate flow-ways named “FULL” and “PARTIAL”. Harvesting of the FULL replicate flow-ways occurred once a week, where algal biomass accumulated along the entirety of the flow-way was collected. Harvesting of the PARTIAL replicate flow-ways occurred twice a week, where the algal biomass was collected in alternate meter sections (a total of 3-metre harvest length every 3 – 3.5 days). The increased harvest frequency (3 – 3.5 days) and sectioned harvest regime implemented in the PARTIAL replicate flow-ways significantly improved biomass productivity (3.2 g DW m-2. d) in comparison to the less frequent (7 – 7.5 days) and total harvest regime implemented in the FULL replicate flow-ways (0.9 g DW m-2. d). However, there was no significant difference in nutrient removal rates between the PARTIAL and FULL replicate flow-ways. There is still limited understanding of how operational parameters can be optimized to maximise biomass productivity and nutrient removal in FANS systems on a year-round basis. However, the findings of this study demonstrate that an increased harvest frequency and sectioned harvest regime can improve the biomass yield of filamentous algae grown on an outdoor FANS system during spring to summer months. Furthermore, this study has suggested the potential for Māori acceptance of FANS technology and algal biomass use. In person interviews with whanau and iwi members recalled use of algal biomass harvested from rivers and streams as fertilizer for vegetable gardens or bait for eel trapping. Moreover, the literature review and in person interviews highlighted the importance of identifying and using ngā kupu (words and terms) used by Māori to describe freshwater algae. The intergenerational observation and utilization of algae as a resource by Māori may reveal an awareness of biological processes that either differs or compliments a Western Science point of view. Incorporating this knowledge into current water and environmental management practices could be extremely beneficial for improving water quality of streams in Aotearoa New Zealand.