Landcare Research - Manaaki Whenua

Landcare-Research -Manaaki Whenua

Highlights

Tussock grassland, Westland. Image – Kerry Ford.

Tussock grassland, Westland. Image – Kerry Ford.

  • A four–year international study involving radiocarbon dating of Pacific rat (kiore) bones and rat–gnawed native seeds showed the earliest evidence of human colonisation in New Zealand was about AD1280–1300. Previous research suggested humans reached New Zealand as early as 200 BC.
  • Erosion models that will help save tens of millions of dollars worth of productive topsoil are being rolled out to all North Island regional councils. The models were originally developed for Horizons Regional Council where they are being used to prioritise management of the most vulnerable land.
  • The highly acclaimed carboNZeroCertTM programme went global through a licence agreement with a UK–based verification organisation, Achilles Information. In other commercial developments, Sirtrack, our wildlife tracking solution provider, achieved record sales, and we launched EcoGene, a new DNA–based diagnostics service for biosecurity and biodiversity.
  • Research at Molesworth Station demonstrated that effective bovine Tb control could be achieved by identifying and concentrating on areas with higher densities of possums. Other research in the Central North Island showed that effective possum control could be possible with an 80% reduction in the quantity of 1080 used.
  • In what is believed to be a world first, Landcare Research scientists combined with Scottish counterparts to demonstrate and measure respiration rates between soil and roots in an undisturbed forest. The work was carried out with a new tuneable diode laser.
  • Landcare Research staff produced 200 commissioned research reports during the year, as well as 270 peer–reviewed articles. They also conducted 280 presentations on technical information and their research results.
  • Solar panels for water heating were installed at four Landcare Research sites, waste to landfill was reduced by 54%, 13.7 tonnes of paper were recycled and all parent CO2 emissions were off set.
  • Landcare Research Group revenue increased 6.5% to $56.2m. Net surplus after tax was $632k.