Messages
If you have a message that you want to disseminate to all email members of NZFSS, then you may send it to the webmaster who will send it out for you. Alternatively, you may want to post it on the forum.
Forum
Read what’s going on, join the discussions, and/or use the forum to start discussions on freshwater topics. The more people using it, the better! You will need to be a NZFSS member to be accepted as registered as a forum user. Give a user name (this can be, but doesn’t have to be, your name or email address) and a password to be able to post on the forum.
Here are some topics discussed in the past on the NZFSS freshwater discussion forum:
- How to engage with the “River’s Group” launched by the Institution of Professional Engineers NZ (IPENZ) and Water New Zealand (formerly the NZWWA)
- Effects on aquatic ecosystems with mining on the conservation estate
- Turnbull Group’s recommendations on water governance
Submissions
After some discussion on our forum, a submission has been written on behalf of NZFSS, by the executive committee, to give our views on mining in the conservation estate.
The submission is divided into four themes:
1. Freshwater values in the Conservation Estate;
2. Construction and roading effects;
3. Waters quality and biodiversity impacts;
4. Management and remediation.
At the NZFSS annual conference in 2008, the proposed National Policy Statement was a focal topic, with a workshop devoted to the topic attracting some animated discussion. Subsequent discussion papers from Society members have attracted comments from a variety of members which have been distilled into this submission to the Board of Enquiry.
National Policy Statement Submission
On behalf of the NZFSS, Kevin Collier has written the following submission on the Draft Water Research Strategy.
Water Research Strategy Submission
After polling the NZFSS members about stress, Kevin Collier has written an open letter outlining the overall results of that poll.
Jobs
Make sure you are on the NZFSS mailing list as positions are circulated through email from time to time.
For student scholarships please see the Students page.
300245 RESEARCH OFFICER
Department of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Science and Engineering
The University of Waikato
(Fixed-term for up to three years)
We are seeking a post doctoral scientist with an interest in fish modelling and management to conduct research into fisheries management and modelling in freshwater ecosystems as part of the outcome-based FRST (OBI) Investment Programme. This research is focussed on prediction and biodiversity monitoring of freshwater ecosystems and restoration in New Zealand (see Lake Ecosystem Restoration New Zealand based at http://www.lernz.co.nz). Our research programme studies a variety of New Zealand’s lakes, including shallow lakes of the Waikato Basin and a range of deeper lakes.
You will be responsible for managing a discrete, interdependent part of the project and will provide guidance to research students. The successful applicant will be part of a multidisciplinary team that is using netting, boat electrofishing, hydroacoustic population estimation, and remote sensing.
You will have experience in fisheries models and management, and statistical applications for freshwater ecosystems (eg, lake and river ecosystem models) and research skills in specific research techniques in analysis (eg the analysis of large data sets, GIS). You should have experience in understanding structure and function of freshwater ecosystems (eg, stable isotopes) as demonstrated by publications, conference papers, or doctoral research. The successful applicant will have good communication and interpersonal skills and a strong work ethic. It is essential that you have completed a PhD degree.
Salary will be in the range of NZ$56,726 to $68,741 per year, depending on qualifications, skills and experience.
The position will remain open until filled.
For more information and to apply, visit our website http://jobs.waikato.ac.nz
Rivers with Craig Potton
In this new PRIME documentary series starting on 12 September, reknowned photographer Craig Potton, travels five of our most significant waterways - the Clutha, the Waikato, the Mokihinui, the Clarence and the Rangitata - each one with its own story.
Flyer here
Art merges with science
Amelia Hitchcock is a BFA(hons) student at Elam School of Fine Arts, Auckland. For her graduation show, she is trying to create a spectrum of New Zealand freshwater to display as a wall of water. She needs water samples in vials from all over New Zealand. She hopes to provoke thought and interaction around the ecological and conservation dialogues surrounding our freshwater systems. Find her instructions and watch progress on http://spectrum2010.blogspot.com/