From land to sea – tracing our trash
NIWA and the Sustainable Coastlines charitable organisation are collaborating to develop ‘source-to-sea’ methods to trace the movement of litter from stormwater systems, through rivers, to coastlines.
Pollution
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Aquatic Science at the interface
19 August 2013 to 23 August 2013
NIWA is sponsoring Aquatic Science at the interface, a joint conference for the:
New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society
New Zealand Marine Sciences Society
Australian Society for Fish Biology
The conference is being held in Hamilton, for more information see the Aquatic science at the interface website
Water quality maps and information, April to June 2012
River temperatures April to June
Autumn river water temperatures were mostly in the range 8 to 16oC and tended to be slightly higher in the north and at lower altitude.
Association of Women in the Sciences
28 July 2011 to 29 July 2011
NIWA is sponsoring the Association of Women in the Sciences (AWIS) conference being held in Auckland.
For more information about the conference see AWIS conference website
Preparing for land-use change in the Upper Motu catchment
The Motu River, in the eastern part of North Island, is the first of NZ’s so-called ‘wild and scenic rivers’. However, its upper catchment seems likely to be the focus of dairy expansion. NIWA scientists have been looking at the likely impacts of this change in land use.
Reducing contaminant runoff from roads
Heavy metals, released by wear on tyres and brake pads, are washed off roads and can contaminate rivers, streams and harbours. NIWA has recently completed a study to measure how much copper and zinc is discharged in road runoff, and how well different stormwater devices remove these contaminants from runoff.
Could climate change affect infectious diseases?
NIWA scientists are part of a team hoping to answer questions about how climate change might affect disease rates in New Zealand, such as those caused by pathogens like Cryptosporidium and Campylobacter, two major causes of disease in New Zealand.
Recent water quality information
Water temperature and clarity information, April to June 2010.
Retrospective river flows, April to June 2010
Our last three-monthly predictions, and what actually happened.
River flows update, July 2010
Monthly and seasonal river flow information, and our outlook for the coming three months.
The long walk - assessing stream health in Waitakere
Walking the whole length of streams is slow and difficult, but by far the best way to learn about their environmental condition.
Stormwater contaminants reduce genetic diversity
Genetic diversity is an important component of biodiversity. Recent NIWA research shows how contaminated stormwater can reduce the genetic diversity of one model freshwater species.
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