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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.

The 10th meeting of the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) – Phytophthora Working Party was held in June this year at the University of California, Berkeley. Meetings like these are a good reminder of the damage caused by species in the Phytophthora genus and of New Zealand’s role in the global effort being made to combat Phytophthora-caused diseases.

The Challenge is pleased to share that Dr Nari Williams is confirmed as the new co-lead for Theme 6: Host, Pathogen & Environment.

Hailing from Plant and Food Research, Beccy brings to the team a long history of working in the myrtle rust and kauri dieback research space, making her an excellent candidate for the NRT Science Leader role.   

A suite of tools and information to help plant nurseries manage myrtle rust outbreaks this summer has been released by New Zealand Plant Producers Inc (NZPPI).

The BioHeritage National Science Challenge waka is heading ashore. The kaihoe, our Contract Management and Communications team (aka ‘Support’), have strived to ensure that BioHeritage's mission was managed well and communicated effectively. Before they stow their BioHeritage hoe (paddles) they’ve reflected on their time with the Challenge.   

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.

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.

The scoping and design process for Tranche 2 is now complete and we have several new projects underway . . .

Tracey Godfery (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāti Maru) is a PhD student at the University of Auckland supported by BioHeritage programmes Risk Assessment & Ecosystem Impacts and He Tangata, He Taiao, He Ōhanga: a values-based biosecurity risk assessment framework for Aotearoa. She’ll be facilitating a biosecurity decision making framework that addresses both cultural and scientific complexity.