One Tauranga education provider prospering in the aftermath of the Rena grounding on Astrolabe Reef is the University of Waikato which this week celebrated the opening of extended premises at its Marine Field Station at Sulphur Point.

The extension is a result of the increased demand for research requirements in the last 12 months as a result of the Rena grounding, says Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Alister Jones.

University of Waikato Chair in Coastal Science Professor Chris Battershill in front of the new building.

Alister says the Coastal Marine Field Station has been established in partnership with the other tertiary institutions, the business community and with iwi.

'It is a reflection of universities of the future that they will become more multi-disciplinary and conduct highly relevant research to meet the needs of the community.”

The opening also celebrates the awarding of scholarships to 15 students who will conduct the Rena-related research in the coming months.

Chair in Coastal Science Professor Chris Battershill, Dean of Science and Engineering Professor Bruce Clarkson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Alister Jones, BOPRC Chair John Cronin, Western BOP Mayor Ross Paterson, Priority One CEO Andrew Coker.

Coastal Science Chair, Professor Chris Battershill says it is excellent timing as the forthcoming summer programme will involve dozens of students and volunteers continuing the sampling and monitoring of rocky shore and sandy coastline marine communities as well as offshore reef systems.

The multidisciplinary Te Mauri Moana tertiary partnership was formed during the year to manage the extensive environmental research as part of the Rena Long-Term Environmental Recovery Plan.

Te Mauri Moana includes the University of Waikato, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and the University of Canterbury.

The group recently announced positive preliminary results following initial sampling and the Chris says the focus will now move to Otaiti/Astrolabe Reef to determine the environmental impact there.