Sunshine, sand, and stories – researching lakes of the Manawatū-Whanganui region
Kiely McFarlane, Cawthron Institute After weeks of rain and wind leading up to the trip, the Lakes380 team were extremely fortunate to enjoy calm sunny days throughout their stay in the Manawatū-Whanganui area. Travelling from the Wairarapa, Lower Hutt, and Nelson, the field team met at the edge of Pukepuke Lagoon along with several environment […]
Winter Wonderland Fieldwork in Central Otago
After our fieldwork scheduled in March was postponed due to COVID, I was keenly looking forward to getting out in the field after lockdown. Prior to this fieldwork, I had only been out to core three lakes before during summer. This time round, and being my first Lakes380 trip, we visited several alpine lakes in […]
The West Coast/Otago – Week Two
By Henry Gard, Senior Technician, GNS Science I have been a part of two other Lakes380 campaigns prior to this one – Hawkes Bay and Taranaki – and it always impresses me how well-organised these trips are. Marcus Vandergoes, Susie Wood and many others behind the scenes at the Cawthron Institute, GNS Science and various […]
The Wild West Coast – Week One
By Stuart Caird, Master Student, Victoria University A memoir of a sincerely satisfied science student……. To delay the onset of my imminent post-field depression☹, I’ll share with you my sensational start to 2020 with the Lakes380 team on the West Coast of the South Island! Hmmm oh where to begin? As an MSc student at […]
Northland – second half of Phase one
THE PERSPECTIVE OF A MASTER’S STUDENT By Carrie Page MSc (Ecology), Massey University When the opportunity came up for me to join the Lakes380 team conducting some fieldwork, I jumped at the opportunity, as most of my experience has been lab based. This was my first time in the field, outside of University fieldtrips for […]
Northland phase 1 week 1 – the Far North!
By Maïlys Picard, PhD candidate (University of Waikato & Cawthron Institute) Yet another field trip that feels like it’s too good to be true! I’m a PhD student, coming from the other side of the planet (France). And every time we go sampling, my eyes feel like they’re going to pop out of their socket […]
Te Arawa / Rotorua Lakes Field Work Summary
Ngāti Tahu and Ngāti Whaoa mana whenua welcomed the Lakes380 team at Lake Ōkaro, opening our Te Arawa/Rotorua lakes fieldwork with karakia timatanga. Others from Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Tuhourangi Tribal Authority, GNS and Cawthron Māori Relationship Advisers, and and a local farmer who has supported wetland restoration joined us for whakawhanaungatanga – engaging on […]
Te Arawa / Rotorua lakes field work – a PhD students perspective
By Julia Short, PhD student, Adelaide University I’m sitting on the plane, on the way home to Adelaide trying to sum up the Rotorua field trip. This field trip was my first time in the field for the Lakes 380 project. When I came to New Zealand last year, I was pleased with the amount […]
The Lakes380 team heads north to Auckland
By Rose Gregersen, PhD student, Auckland University The third installment of Lakes380 field sampling brought the team to Auckland’s dune lakes. First up was and environmental DNA survey at Tomarata Lake, which lies on the edge of Mangawhai forest. Being away from laboratory facilities can be difficult, but the team is comprised of well-experienced problem […]
Southland – That’s a Wrap
– Katie Thomas PhD Student When you’ve just got married and driven hundreds of kilometres down the wild West Coast of the South Island, you’d think it’s quite hard to top such experiences. I won’t say it was better than my wedding day… but flying over the endless fiords as the sun breaks over the horizon […]
Southland Summary
By Rose Gregersen- PhD Student, Auckland University The Southland field trip began for me with a nightmare flight into Invercargill, and ended with no desire whatsoever to head back home to Auckland. This immense trip was an immense success. Thanks to hours and hours of organisation and preparation, seamless team work and leadership, the team […]
Sampling Southland
– John Pearman – Molecular Ecologist, Cawthron Institute It had all started two weeks earlier when I arrived in New Zealand to start my career at Cawthron. Now I was heading south for my first experience of sampling the lakes of New Zealand in Southland. My first experience of the sampling was an early morning […]
Sampling Golden Bay/Mohua – part 1
By Charlotte Šunde, 6/11/2018 Lakes380 launched our fieldwork in Mohua/Golden Bay with Manawhenua ki Mohua at a small blue lake, Rototai, near Takaka township. Karanga, karakia and waiata rang out in greeting to the lake and the tūpuna connected to this rohe; a karakia timatanga led by Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Rārua whānau. […]
Sampling Golden Bay/Mohua – part 2
By Katie Brasell, PhD student, Lakes380 Team The quest to sample our 380 lakes continued last month when the crew headed over the Takaka Hill to Golden Bay. Lakes Rototai, Killarney, Otuhie and two of the Kaihoka lakes were ticked off the list early in the week (read more about these sites in Charlotte’s post […]
Lakes380 Launching Off in Wellington!
Our Lakes380 campaign began in earnest last week when the team descended upon Lake Waitawa, near Otaki, to collect our first samples in the Wellington region. The team included eight people, two boats, and three vehicles packed to the brim with all manner of equipment. Our mission: to collect all samples and clean down within […]
