NorthTec Ecology Students Research —September 22-25 2022

NorthTec is a tertiary institution based in Whangarei offering a variety of study opportunities across a wide range of academic and technical subject areas.   We were delighted to once again host a group of students and their lecturers from the School of Environmental Management who spent four days at CUE Haven doing a variety of research projects to supplement their course work.

The group arrived on Thursday morning and included students Geri, Greer, Gurmanjit, Kim, Marije, Phoebe and Sam and lecturers Alicia and Oliver.

We spent some time getting acquainted over morning tea and Mahrukh gave the students a short talk about the background and philosophy of the CUE Haven restoration project.

Thomas then took the group for a tour of the property.  Because the students would be out in the field day and night it was important that they get an orientation.  We drove up to the top of the property and took a slow walk back via the walking track.

During the walk the students identified locations where they could conduct research activities.

The students were going to research invertebrates (insects and moths) and fish in the stream and over the next few days they spent time in the field gathering data and specimens.

For the fish studies they installed nets in the stream.

Follow up checks revealed a variety of inanga, banded kokopu and short fin eel.

The students studied the fish and collected data about them and then released them.

The other students also were successful in finding interesting specimens to take back for further microscopic study.  In addition to leafhoppers, they found several different moth species including this Ghost Moth, endemic to New Zealand.

It was a pleasure hosting the group and we’re glad that the stay was so successful as it helps further develop CUE Haven as a space for research and learning.  We very much look forward to hosting more NorthTec students and their lecturers at CUE Haven again next year.