‘Surreal’ funding boost for marine biodiversity project

Postdoctoral fellow Dr Louise Bennett-Jones is part of a team which has secured funding for its project to help restore marine biodiversity. PHOTO: Lucy Coyle.

A new University of Otago - Ōtākou Whakaihu Wakaproject which aims to help restore marine biodiversity in the Ngāi Tahu takiwāhas received backing from a government agency.

The project was recently awarded $250,000 over two years from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment-administered Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision MātaurangaCapability Fund.

The fund aims to strengthen capability, capacity, skills and networks between Māori and the science and innovation system, and increase understanding of how research can contribute to the aspirations of Māoriorganisations and deliver benefits for New Zealand.

Otago's funding will be used to support the placement of Dr Louise Bennett-Jones as a postdoctoral fellow, who will work with the University and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.She will be mentored by Dr Gaya Gnanalingam, of the Department of Marine Science, and Nigel Scott, fromTe Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Dr Bennett-Jones says getting the funding is surreal.

"I knew it was going to be a competitive process and so I just couldn't believe it when I found out," she says.

"However I feel our being awarded it reflects the achievements the wider research team has made in this space already, and I am very excited about the opportunity to be a part of that team again going forward."

The funding will support Ngāi Tahu tangata tiaki/kaitiaki in their management of customary protection areas.

"In part, it will look at documenting impacts made by existing restoration projects, such as removal of invasive species and restoration of native species, and comparing these with as-yet unmanaged areas," Dr Bennett-Jones says.

"It will also investigate avenues for securing future funding from biodiversity credit schemes to continue and expand upon these projects."

The project is one of 16 to be funded in the latest round of the Te Pūnaha Hihiko: Vision MātaurangaCapability Fund. Nearly $4 million was awarded.