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  1. Reconstructing the past from poop: now we know what the little bush moa ate

    Knowledge of the diets of New Zealand's extinct moa comes from careful analysis of moa coprolites (fossilised poop) and gizzard contents. Moa coprolites and gizzard contents can be dissected and analysed under the microscope or using DNA identification techniques to decipher what the birds ate. The ...

  2. Glowing fungi and new rust species among Fungal Foray finds

    Unusual bioluminescent fungi and a new rust species were among the highlights for mycologists at this year’s Fungal Foray held on Rakiura / Stewart Island recently.

  3. Trans-Tasman collaboration unlocks genetic secrets behind myrtle rust

    In a trans-Tasman collaboration, scientists have sequenced the genome of [Austropuccinia psidii], the fungus responsible for the disease myrtle rust, and produced the world’s largest assembled fungal genome.

  4. Building community connections to protect bats in the Piako

    A group of around 25 farmers, Piako residents, land managers and conservation experts explored ways to protect the threatened long-tailed bats in the region at a recent event organised by the Piako Catchment Forum and sponsored by Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research.

  5. Deep ecological research funded for nationally significant Māori rock art sites

    A new research project helping with the ecological restoration of nationally significant Māori rock art sites has received funding.

  6. Taxonomist appreciation day

    It's Taxonomist Appreciation Day today - a day when we say “thank you” for all of the hard work done by taxonomists around the world.

  7. Celebrating our achievements

    Nathan Odgers has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the Citizen Science Association of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Association is a recent initiative (~12 months old) so is currently in a formative and developmental stage. The Association aims to encourage the development and practice of ci...

  8. New wetland educational resources released to schools across Aotearoa

    A new series of repo (wetland) educational resources focusing on education, awareness, and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) is being launched on World Wetlands Day (February 2) to schools throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.  

  9. Microbes in our wetlands – a new use for eDNA

    A new study has shown that eDNA may prove a valuable tool for monitoring biological change in wetlands.

  10. Nationally threatened bat species discovered in Morrinsville

    The long-tailed bat (pekapeka whiore roa) has made a surprise appearance in Morrinsville in the Waikato.