Boyne Drummond then introduced the evening’s speakers, for the Club’s 75^th Anniversary Hauraki Gulf Environment Award programme, associated with Auckland University. He thanked those Club members involved, and the Newmarket Rotary Charitable Trust. The value of the Award had been increased to $14k.

 

 

Kate Thompson, AU Development Manager for Science Scholarships and Awards, spoke in appreciation of the two decades of the Club’s association with the University, and the several awards currently funded.

 

Last year’s Environment Award winner, Hayley Alena, updated us on her research on Aotea/Great Barrier Island. Offshore islands with high lizard abundances may be the only places left to study the natural role of lizards as seed dispersers. 

Over the last two years Hayley has been monitoring 6 sites and a considerable number of stations for seed dispersal by the lizards, skinks and geckos. DNA has helped in their identification as seed dispersers.  Her dietary study of the population is to come.

 

The 2021 Awardee, and RYLA supporter, Sophie Roberts, updated us on her Mussel Restoration project. She had submitted her Ph D thesis, which was currently being examined.

She has published a paper on the monitoring of the success of the project. A further publication on the metrics involved is in the pipeline. She is working on improvements to the reporting of results – streamlining  the process.

 

The 2024 Environment Award was presented to Ph. D. student Katherine Lockton. Katherine is researching “milky white flesh syndrome” which in recent years has become a very concerning issue in the Hauraki Gulf snapper population. 

Studying snapper and the life cycle has environmental, cultural, recreational and commercial implications as she spelled out for us. A proportion of the Gulf snapper are emaciated and losing condition: the Animal Health Lab is assisting in diagnosing and identifying possible causes. As part of her research, Katherine hopes to run recovery trials.

 

 

Boyne and Ron Seeto thanked Kate and each of the speakers individually, presenting them with Ruby Seeto Starship tea towels. Ruby’s project has now raised $850k for Starship.

 

All three presentations confirmed the importance of the research being undertaken in the Gulf, and the appreciation of the researchers for the support being provided by the Club.

 

 

 

The Club’s warm appreciation to Boyne, John Graham and  John Burton for their work with AU and Professor Andrew Jeffs on the ongoing management of the Awards and the selection of such outstanding candidates.

We are being contacted by Warwick to update our details for the Members’ Handbook.  Partners will be invited to include their contact details also if they wish. Widows and widowers are being invited to be included, along with their contact details.  A further category of Club Support Team members is being established: younger folk available to assist with projects in particular.