NZMSS Newsletter November 2004

Dunedin in 2004

The ‘Southern Marine Science Symposium’ celebrating the centenary of the Portobello Marine Laboratory, with its retrospective of the many and varied activities, achievements and personalities that comprise the history of “the oldest marine research facility in Australasia”, provided a great introduction to the Society’s 2004 annual conference, held during 6-8^th July at the University of Otago. The conference programme offered the usual heterogeneous mix of over 100 papers and posters on physiology and life history, biodiversity and morphology, aquaculture, oceanography, fish and fisheries, but with its strongest focus on the soft and hard bottom disciplines of benthic ecology. The Society’s thanks go to Mike Barker and his team for the successful organisation of both the symposium and conference, which together showed the strength of marine science in New Zealand from its earliest days through to the present.

Wellington in 2005

The British Lions have had their first victory even before their 2005 tour starts! A virtual sell out of all accommodation in the Wellington region has forced us to abandon plans to hold a joint NZMSS/AMSA Conference in Wellington in late June, and despite our best efforts we have been unable to find alternative dates and/or venue that suit both organisations. We have therefore decided to run the 2005 NZMSS conference in Wellington (at Victoria University) at our traditional meeting time (the second mid semester break), and to offer to host a joint conference with the Australians in 2006 (when hopefully mutually acceptable dates and suitable venue will be possible). So keep 23-29^th August 2005 free, and expect a conference announcement before the end of this year.

The Council in 2004-05 …

The Society’s AGM, held during the Conference and attended by 30 members (only 7% of the membership!), heard reports of a quiet year in Council activity and a sound financial situation. After discussion of the Society’s annual Review, the Fellowship proposal, the Working Groups proposal, and a few other matters, the election of the new Council was held.

Your NZMSS Council for 2004/05 comprises:-

President: Bob Hickman Vice President: Kathy Walls Immediate Past President: Mark Gibbs

Treasurer: Dan McClary Secretary: Alison MacDiarmid

Council Members: Andrea Alfaro; Mary Sewell; Martin Cryer; Don Neale; Terry Healy; Jonathan Gardner; Mark Costello

Membership Secretary: Brian Paavo

Student Representatives: Kate Steger; Byron Maxwell

Lesley McLeod (Victoria University) has accepted the job of editor for Review # 46

… and Council activities so far

More communication and more action were called for at the AGM. This ‘Newsletter’ (and there will be more of them!) is a Council attempt at upping the communication; but check out the website as well (http://nzmss.rsnz.org). Council action has included submissions to DoC on the Aotea and Mimiwhangata Marine Reserves (available on the website), attendance at David Benson-Pope’s RMA meetings, and sponsorship of an Auckland University environmental students seminar day (and we will consider requests to sponsor similar student events at other institutions).

*******************Contact your Council if you want to know more********************