Boost to biodiversity and biosecurity research

New relationship a boost to biodiversity and biosecurity research

The National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and Te Papa have signed a new agreement to help improve research for management of New Zealand’s aquatic biodiversity and biosecurity.

“New Zealand’s marine and freshwater environments are extremely important for our economic and social welfare, but they are also under constant pressure from human uses and the introduction of new species,” said NIWA Chief Executive Dr Rick Pridmore.

“This new relationship between NIWA and Te Papa through NIWA’s National Centre for Aquatic Biodiversity & Biosecurity will help increase public awareness and appreciation of the aquatic environment. It will also help us better protect the environment, and where necessary, help restore it.”

“Te Papa and NIWA have many common business objectives and concerns, and this new working relationship will help to achieve much more than we could have achieved by ourselves,” said Te Papa Chief Executive Dr Seddon Bennington.

“We look forward to developing more joint initiatives, including science education and training programmes. In our new relationship we will not only focus on all aspects of biodiversity and biosecurity, including issues of sustainability, but we will also raise the profile of the effects of climate change and variability, as well as natural hazards.”

“We’re already working with Te Papa on joint projects, including the very successful NORFANZ survey which has just identified hundreds of new species of fish and invertebrates around Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands,” said Dr Pridmore.

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