Eco Dialogues | Part 1: Celebrating Taranaki’s Marine Biodiversity

Presented by Wild for Taranaki in collaboration with Puke Ariki. 

Join us for the first in a four-part series of dynamic conversations exploring the beauty, risks, and opportunities surrounding Taranaki’s unique biodiversity. Hear from specialists who engage with these realities daily and discover how you can support their mahi.

6 short talks, 6 iconic Taranaki species

Tohorā - Pigmy Blue Whale: Jesu Valdes (Taranaki Regional Council)

Rimurimu - Kelp As Habitat: Pat Swanson (Highland Intermediate Marine Studies Group)

Kororā - Little Blue Penguin: Barbara Hammonds (Ngā Motu Marine Reserve Society)

Sea Spurge - Abby Lagula (Taranaki Regional Council)

Tāmure - Snapper: Karen Pratt (Project Reef)

Tūturiwhatu - New Zealand Dotterel: Emily Roberts (Wild for Taranaki)

Pat Swanson is the science specialist teacher at Highlands Intermediate School. He is passionate about engaging tamariki and whānau in science, with a particular enthusiasm for citizen science.

Although he has no formal science qualifications, Pat has had a lifelong interest in marine science, declaring at 6 years of age that he wanted to be a marine biologist. His first job out of school was as a science technician for the Fisheries Research Division (now NIWA). Teaching followed on from that, as well as a stint of 10 years as a commercial kina and paua diver.

Dr. Jesu Valdes is a marine ecologist from Chile, currently working as the Coastal and Marine Scientist for Taranaki Regional Council. With a background in marine mammal research, Jesu has contributed to studies on sea otters in California and has researched a variety of cetaceans in her home country, including Chilean dolphins – a close relative of NZ’s Hector’s and Maui dolphins, Peale’s dolphins, Burmeister’s porpoises, and

blue whales. She moved to Aotearoa to pursue a PhD focusing on the impact of mussel farming on Hector’s dolphins in Banks Peninsula. After graduating she moved to Taranaki where she is responsible for monitoring the region’s rocky reefs and estuaries. Her work involves collecting data and samples for long-term monitoring programs, providing technical advice on marine and coastal issues, and reviewing resource consents for activities occurring within the coastal and marine environment.

Karen Pratt has always had a love for the Ocean and passion for community-driven projects. Constantly in contact with project partners, scientists, students and community, she is always searching for funding and new innovative ideas to drive Project Reef South Taranaki forward. Project Reef South Taranaki is a regionally and nationally recognised project run through the South Taranaki Underwater Club which aims to discover and document the subtidal rocky reef communities found in the South Taranaki Bight. With work spanning science, technology, engineering, art and maths there is a lot to discover!

Emily Roberts is the Strategic Lead for Te Whānau Toroa, a community-based project aiming to safeguard shorebirds, seabirds and their habitats around the Taranaki coastline. She is passionate about the protection of coastal birds having led related Curious Minds participatory science projects including Project Hotspot and Dotterel Defenders. Emily holds a PhD in environmental microbiology and a Bachelor of Marine Biology (1st class hons). Before joining Wild for Taranaki Emily worked for the Taranaki Regional Council as Environmental Education Lead and Marine Ecologist and for Swansea University as a Marine Biology Lecturer. She is also currently working for Te Kāhui o Taranaki on the Wai Connection project. In her spare time, Emily is a keen macrophotographer and avid iNaturalist NZ nerd. She’s particularly fascinated by the small wee beasties and plants easily overlooked including wētā, peripatus, springtails, spider orchids and coastal herbs.

Abby Lagula is a dedicated Biosecurity Officer at the Taranaki Regional Council, specialising in pest pathways and monitoring new-to-region species. Growing up in New Plymouth, her love for the environment was nurtured through experiences like fishing on the reefs, walking local tracks, and swimming in the waters. After completing an ecology degree in 2003, Abby began her career with MPI (then MAF) as a Quarantine Officer in Wellington. This role sparked a passion for biosecurity, a field she had to learn on the job over nearly a decade, both at the border and post-border.

Barbara Hammonds is an active member of the biooodiversity community in Taranaki. With interests. As a member of the Ngā Motu Marine Reserve Society, she has dedicated many years to advocating for the protection of local marine environments.Her upcoming talk will focus on Kororā Korero, a conservation initiative dedicated to protecting the little blue penguin (kororā). Barbara will share her work in supporting the conservation of these remarkable penguins, including local efforts to monitor and protect their populations.