New field station opened

The official opening of a new coastal research facility marks a first for the University of Waikato and is a milestone for its Coastal Marine Group.

The new field station was officially opened at Sulphur Point on Wednesday by University of Waikato vice-chancellor Professor Roy Crawford.

“This is an historic occasion of the University.

“We have been conducting research in the Bay of Plenty for many years under the guidance of the late Professor Terry Healy and a field station is something we have been wanting for some time.

“We have created a beginning that will be the start of something very important. Research will start here, but will then be disseminated around the world.”

The field station on Cross Road is part of the University’s recently launched Environmental Research Institute.

Professor Crawford thanked the university’s partners, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Port of Tauranga, Priority One, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, and Smartgrowth for their support in establishing the facility.

The chair of Coastal Science, Professor Chris Battershill, is based at the field station which is also being used by postgraduate students researching in the Bay of Plenty.

“Having a dedicated lab to process field work will be great for the students,” he said.

“Up until now, a lot of the field work we’ve done has had to be taken to Hamilton to be processed.”

The head of the Marine Ecology Research Group at Canterbury University, Professor David Schiel, says the new facility is a significant step forward for the community.

“As we see more pressures on our coastline, it is important to have effective management based on sound research.

“This is a really significant centre of marine science for this area.”

He is the only other chair of marine science in New Zealand and he is working with the University of Waikato on the environmental response to the Rena grounding.

He applauded the partnership involved in establishing the facility.

“Partnerships can bring significant value and understanding and lead to better stewardship of our marine resources for future generations.”