Abstract: This paper introduced the principles and applications of macroinvertebrate community index(MCI) and quantitative macroinvertebrate community index (QMCI) commonly used in New Zealand, and applied them to monitor and assess 53 sites in 40 rivers in Wellington region of the Country. Both MCI and QMCI were correlated with the rivers nutrients enrichment significantly, suggesting that it was possible to use the two indices to monitor and assess the nutrient pollution of water body. The MCI and QMCI could rapidly and easily assess water body quality, and the assessment showed that in Wellington region, the rivers water quality was overall good, but some of the rivers were poor in water quality. There was a significant correlation between MCI and QMCI, but, as compared with QMCI, MCI was better correlated with the rivers nutrients enrichment, and thus, recommended to be applied to assess water body quality. The aim of this paper was to introduce the related researchers in China how to use MCI and QMCI in monitoring and assessing water body quality, and gave some ideas on improving the development of biotic index with macroinvertebrates in rivers water quality assessment in China.