An incredible cohort of rangatahi (young people) have pulled together to create a series of artworks under the banner of ‘The Great Kiwi Poster Competition’, the third organised by the accoladed Ōtepoti artist Bruce Mahalski.
Category: News
What do the Queensland fruit fly and the red imported fire ant have in common? A threat to Aotearoa
Will Eason is researching ways to engage the public in the response to biosecurity incursions, as part of a Master of Strategic Communication at the University of Canterbury.
How our values affect the response to myrtle rust
Aspen Berry (Kāi Tahu) is looking at communication related to the campaign to manage myrtle rust as part of a Masters in Strategic Communication at the University of Canterbury.
Myrtle rust: How bad is it really?
Five years into the myrtle rust incursion, the question on everybody’s lips is, “How bad is it really?” According to Beccy Ganley, Ngā Rākau Taketake Science Leader, we don’t know.
Ngā Rākau Taketake – a small piece of a bigger effort
Anniversaries, good or bad, are a time for reflection. As we observe the five-year anniversary of myrtle rust’s arrival on mainland New Zealand, we find ourselves looking back over the strides made in research, where Ngā Rākau Taketake has contributed, and the future of myrtle ora (health) in New Zealand.
Many hands make light work
There are many wonderful groups and organisations who operate in the myrtle rust space and have progressed myrtle rust research over the last five years. Below are statements from some of these groups on the work they do to understand, monitor, fight, and raise awareness for this devastating disease.
Please note that this is far from a comprehensive list! If you do work on myrtle rust and would like to be included in this list, please reach out so we can represent all your excellent mahi.
Ngā Pī Ka Rere in capable hands, says departing lead
April will see a change for Ngā Pī Ka Rere, with Aisling Rayne and Symon Palmer joining Helen Warburton in leadership, while Kathryn McRae steps away. Find out more . . .
Maddie Marshall, plant trade network modeller
A big part of our biosecurity system is being prepared – something Maddie Marshall knows all about from her PhD research.
Five new students join Risk Assessment & Ecosystem Impacts
We are welcoming five new students to Ngā Rākau Taketake theme Risk Assessment & Ecosystem Impacts! Meet them and find out more about what they’ll be studying.
Provoking possibilities for stronger relationships with nature
Scientific information tends to be distributed as neatly packaged facts with simplified stories. This can be effective at raising awareness of issues, but it can also make solutions seem simpler than they are – people are then left wondering why change isn’t happening faster.
Stepping up: Mark Harvey joins co-leadership of Mobilising for Action
As we thank Tash for her services in co-leading Theme 2 – Mobilising for Action, we are also excited to welcome Mark Harvey (Mātāwaka no Ngāti Toa) to the co-leadership role! Here’s what Mark has to say about his passion for the theme and what he hopes to accomplish as co-lead.
Stepping down: Natasha Tassell-Matamua moving from co-lead to researcher for Theme 2
Natasha Tassell-Matamua is stepping down as co-lead for Theme 2 – Mobilising for action. But don’t worry, she isn’t going far! She’ll continue in a research capacity for several projects within the theme. Here’s what she has to say about this transition.
Phytophthora agathidicida genome reboot
A team at Massey University, in collaboration with researchers at Scion, Plant and Food Research, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Oregon, has built what appears to be the first chromosome-level Phytophthora genome assembly in the world.
Alana Thurston, shaking things up for kauri dieback detection
Last year, NRT funding was used to purchase a critical piece of lab equipment – a commercial paint can shaker.
Climate change research in NZ – a particularly useful review
Are you interested in the ecological impacts of climate change in Aotearoa New Zealand? If so, this could be the most useful paper of the decade!
Māori views on pest control: the what, the why, and possible ways forward
In a first-of-its-kind study, Māori respondents show a willingness to engage in novel pest control technologies in order to preserve the interplay between local cultural identity and the distinct ecosystems of Aotearoa.