Progress and Acheivements
Biosystematics helps buttercup squash exporters
Research
by our fungal biosystematists for the New Zealand Buttercup Squash Council
revealed that a fungus previously considered pathogenic had no quarantine
risk. It was actually a cosmopolitan species involved in decay and nutrient
cycling. It is expected that this work will facilitate the resumption
of lucrative squash exports to South Korea, worth about $1 million per
year.
Further information »
Biosystematists also produced the 50 th and 51 st volumes of the Fauna of New Zealand series that includes, for the first time, diagnostic-quality photographs taken using our auto-montage facilities.
Native vegetation clearance rules
Queenstown Lakes District Council adopted rules for clearance of native
vegetation. LENZ (Land Environments of New Zealand), which was developed
by Manaaki Whenua for the Ministry for the Environment and supplied to
all local authorities, was used to provide a scientific basis for showing
the range of environments in the area, and determining the importance
of vegetation remnants. We expect other councils will adopt LENZ for this
purpose.
LENZ on the web »
Native birds less affected by magpies than by other pests
A four-year nationwide project for regional councils showed that controlling
magpies resulted in only small increases in some native birds. Native
birds benefited far more from control of mammal pests. The researchers
recommend that, instead of implementing large-scale magpie control programmes,
regional councils should just encourage landowners to control magpies
at sites that are important feeding areas for native birds.
Quardle oodle ardle - magpie
newsletter »
International Wildlife Management Congress (IWMC)
Manaaki Whenua co-hosted the 3rd IWMC in December 2003, the first time
that this premier congress has been held in the southern hemisphere.
The five-day event, with six concurrent sessions daily and nearly 1000
delegates, covered all aspects of animal ecology and wildlife management.
The outstanding success of the congress was facilitated by delegates’enthusiasm
and passion for sharing their huge diversity of skills, experience and
cultures.
Wildlife Management Congress »
Feral pigs implicated in spread of Tb
Video footage of a possum feeding on lymph nodes in the gut pile of a killed feral pig provided the first conclusive evidence that pigs may play a more important role in sparking new outbreaks of Tb than previously thought. Preventing Tb spread is the key to eradicating Tb, so this finding will significantly increase the prospects of correctly targeting measures aimed at preventing such spread.
Motueka Integrated Catchment Management (ICM) successes
Our PGS&T success is testimony to our approach to solving complex
multi-science, multi-stakeholder issues and working with key collaborators — Tasman
District Council, the Cawthron Institute, local community groups and
iwi. UNESCO has recognised the Motueka ICM research project by selecting
it as one of only nine catchment basins in the Asia-Pacific region under
the international HELP (hydrology, environment, life and policy) programme.
http://icm.landcareresearch.co.nz/
Remote sensing contributes to resource management
Remote sensing technology contributed to a range of projects including
a MAF-sponsored trial to assess the potential for discriminating between
trees of closely related species in Hamilton parks. Results of the trial
were very encouraging and indicate that the technology is worth pursuing.
Identifying trees at such a level of detail would be crucial to enable
biosecurity managers to locate potential host trees and hence occurrences
of new pathogens or insect pests.
Information
in Formation - Remote sensing newsletter »
Greenhouse gas research supports new Government policy
New Zealand has ratified the Kyoto Protocol and like other signatories
must balance the books by reducing our increasing amount of greenhouse
gases in the period 2008–2012. Manaaki Whenua, with partners Forest
Research, AgResearch and NIWA, has continued researching emissions from
terrestrial sources, documenting carbon sinks and promoting initiatves such
as EBEX21® ,
which increase stored carbon and biodiversity (www.ebex21.co.nz). Our
research supports the Permanent Forest Sinks Mechanism recently announced
by the Climate Change Office and the nitrous oxide emissions inventory for
the Ministry for Agriculture and Forestry. The research is widely known
internationally, with five of Manaaki Whenua’s ‘most cited papers’ relating
to greenhouse gas processes. Research with iwi in the East Coast of the
North Island revealed the extent of Māori landholdings that could
become ‘carbon
sinks’ by allowing scrub and indigenous forests to regenerate.
Greenhouse gases and
carbon sinks research »
International aid work
Projects that made significant progress this year include:
- Fiji: Capacity Building in Laboratory Quality Assurance at Fiji Sugar Centre.
- Pacific Regional, South Pacific Agricultural Chemistry Network (SPACNET)
- Fiji: Pest and Disease Survey, Phase 3
- PNG: Forestry and Conservation Project
- Samoa: Agricultural Sector Policy and Institutional Development Project
Manaaki Whenua’s mission statement focuses on sustaining the New
Zealand environment but we also have a social responsibility to use our
skills and expertise to help build capacity and improve the livelihood
of developing countries. We have a small team of consultants who specialise
in implementing short- to long-term programmes in the Pacific and Asia.
In the reporting period, 13 Manaaki Whenua staff spent a total of 392
days in developing countries. Dave Leslie, who retired this year after
36 years of soil related work, has made an outstanding contribution to aid
work. Dave established effective, strong working relationships with a
vast array of in-country partners, and played a key role in many soil surveys
and developing land-capability programmes particularly with Pacific Island
nations.
http://ibg.landcareresearch.co.nz
Two new research centres launched
In partnership with the University of Auckland, we launched the Centre
for Urban Ecosystem Studies (CUES) that will focus on low impact urban
design and development (LIUDD). The goal of the LIUDD work programme
is to greatly reduce and mitigate the adverse impacts of construction
on urban environments — including
waterways and coastal waters. Our new ‘sustainable’ building in
Auckland is one of the sites being used to demonstrate the technical
and ecological efficiency of LIUDD practices.
Urban research »
“The Centre for Urban
Ecosystem Studies is already
building a strong profile in
research on sustainability
through its work in low impact
design, the outcomes of which
will have a significant influence
on the built environment of
Auckland and other cities”.
Professor Jenny Dixon
Head of Department of Planning,
University of Auckland
The New Zealand Centre for Environmental Economics (NZCEE) was launched
in partnership with Massey University. NZCEE’s focus will be the links
between the environment, economy and people, and the ways in which the
environment can be protected while allowing the economy and community
to prosper.
NZCEE web site »
| Christine Noble, Croxley, one of >70 Auckland firms that adopted Enviro-Mark® NZ — our environmental, health and safety management system — with support from the BusinessCare programme. www.enviro-mark.com Image- Grant Southam, Campbell Photography |
 |
Partnerships with Māori businesses
Manaaki Whenua, the Federation of Māori Authorities, Waikato University, and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise are collaborating on a project (Waka Tohu), led by Mana Taiao Ltd, to assess the effectiveness of ‘Māori branding’ in the export business — for example, Wakatu Incorporated’s approach to marketing seafood and wine in overseas markets.
Another newly funded research programme is supporting the development of Māori eco-cultural tourism, with Tūhoe and Ngāi Tahu tourism operators collaborating as case studies.
Advisory positions and secondments
Our staff held 24 board memberships and 90 formal advisory positions with
other organisations.
Staff awards »
Three staff were seconded — two to the Ministry for the Environment, and one to Christchurch City Council.
Two people, one from Ngāi Tahu, and one from the Centre of Environmental Research in Germany, were seconded to us.
|
|
Dr David Penman
Email 
Research Manager Phone: (03) 325 6700 |
|
Talk
to us! 
n
our website  Back |
Next |