"Wai Wetlands?" Symposium 2008

The 2008 Wetland Symposium, “Wai Wetlands?”, was a joint venture between the National Wetland Trust, NIWA, University of Canterbury, Christchurch City Council, Environment Canterbury, Ngai Tahu, Department of Conservation, Landcare Research, Fish & Game, the University of Waikato,  Meridian Energy, Waihora Ellesmere Trust and Banrock Station Wines &  Wetland Care New Zealand.

This was the third time that the event was held (after Wellington in 2004 and Hamilton in 2006), but the first time in the South Island. 

The aim of the Symposium was to provide a highly practical, participant-driven forum for knowledge exchange, training and networking for landowners, iwi, people committed to wetland biodiversity and restoration, policy makers and wetland scientists from all over New Zealand. The programme catered for all, including plenary and technical sessions, as well as soapbox, practical sessions and fieldtrips (1/2 and one day) with practical training on site and environmental education. Another aim of the Wai Wetlands? 2008 Symposium was to document best practice restoration techniques for a wetland restoration handbook (due 2009). 

The Symposium was a great success, with over 150 delegates attending from all over New Zealand. Community groups were again well represented, and the feedback from delegates was very positive, with highlights being the networking opportunity, the keynote lectures, the short talk sessions, the practical sessions and the tidal wetland tour. The fieldtrips to Te Waihora were also a huge success, with more than 50 people braving the wind, rain and cold to attend the technical and community tours. 

Thanks to all our sponsors and supporters.

The next Wetland Symposium will be held in 2010.

 Keynote presentation Bev Clarkson

  Part One (640KB)  

  Part Two (517 KB)

 All other presentations and posters are available until 30 September 2008 at: ftp://ftp.niwa.co.nz/wetlands/ 

 Note that some of these files are very large and may take some time to download.