Talks, seminars and informative events are an annual feature of the Seaweek programme. These events are important for sharing knowledge, increasing ocean literacy and exploring new ways for communities to get involved.
This year's event topics included marine restoration, seaweeds, seabirds, megafauna and more! These opportunities support increasing awareness of threats to the marine environment and the ocean’s role in our climate. Below you will find a short summary of the seminars, webinars and talks included in the Seaweek 2025 programme.
Corals - Past, Present and Future - Christchurch, 3 March
Paul Broady’s talk at Canterbury Workers Educational Association (CWEA) provided insight into the unique biology of corals, their significance for ocean ecosystems and how we can help them continue to thrive under climate change.
Coastal Conversations Series - Northland, 3 - 7 March
Northland Regional Council held a series of public talks over 4 different locations with scientist Jim Dahm and local speakers across the Whangarei district on how communities can adapt to coastal erosion and sea-level rise.
Saving our Seas: Marine Restoration in Aotearoa - Nelson, 4 March
This science talk with Dr. Al Alder from the Cawthron Institute provided insight into innovative restoration techniques being used to revive our oceans, from rebuilding kelp forests to restoring shellfish beds. The event, held in partnership with the Nelson Science Society, had a full audience with 93 in-person participants, and 93 more registered to receive the recording - available online via Vimeo.
Beneath the Waves – Hawkes Bay, 4 March
Quentin Bennet's 'Journey Through the Marine World' presentation at the National Aquarium of New Zealand showcased the diversity of marine life across the globe through beautiful underwater photography.
Akaroa Seaweek Science Night – Canterbury, 5 March
At Pōhatu Penguins’ Science Night, participants heard from local scientists, conservationists and students on everything from studying dolphins and penguins, working on a dredge, being an endangered species observer in America, relocating turtles, life on the sea ice of Antarctica, and tracking emperor penguins. The evening included talks from Alison Ballard from Pōhatu Penguins, Kaitlin Bowe and Rose Ursem from the University of Otago, Paula Brown from the University of Canterbury and Dr Rachel Hickcox from Helps Pōhatu Conservation Trust.
Eco Dialogues | Celebrating Taranaki’s Marine Biodiversity – Taranaki, 5 March
A great series of public talks on six of Taranaki’s marine species: pygmy blue whale, rimurimu (kelp), kororā (little blue penguin), sea spurge, snapper, and tūturiwhatu (New Zealand dotterel) was hosted by Wild for Taranaki in collaboration with Puke Ariki.
Amazing Adaptations for Survival - Auckland, 5 & 6 March
MERC educators facilitated educational experiences for young people at the Whangaparaoa & East Coast Bays Libraries to discover the incredible ways some of our sea creatures thrive in their unique habitats! Participants enjoyed a presentation about ecosystems and adaptations and got a chance to design their own sea creature to thrive in an environment of their choice! Thank you for support from Foundation North through Seaweek.
Warming Ocean Causing Ecosystem Changes - Online, 6 March
Through collaboration with Seaweek Australia, we offered a webinar for students in NZ and AU to hear from marine scientists about how ocean warming is causing ecosystem changes. A summary and recording are available here.
The Remarkable Seaweeds of Wellington – Wellington, 6 March
Dr. Wendy Nelson's talk shared insight into the diversity of seaweed species throughout Wellington and discussed some of the threats facing these important species. This event was part of Love Rimurimu’s Seaweed Festival.
Whale & Dolphin Protection and Rescue Talk - Bay of Plenty, 6 March
Amy Shapland from Project Jonah delivered a talk about whales and dolphins. She provided an overview of Project Jonah’s mission and work, introduced a few common species in the area, and how to protect them.
Tōtaranui Kelp Restoration Project - Online, 6 March
A fascinating webinar, hosted by Port Marlborough, featured a presentation from Dr Nick Shears from the University of Auckland, who discussed kina barrens and initiatives to restore kelp forests in these areas. A recording is available here.
Bugs of the Sea – Christchurch, 7 March
Rebecca Le Grice, Natural History Curator at Canterbury Museum, gave a talk exploring the ‘bugs’ (crustaceans) of the sea with examples from the museum’s collections.
Save our Seabirds - Christchurch, 13 March
An evening talk as part of the Speaker Series at Tūranga featured a 45-minute presentation from Alison Chick. She talked about seabirds, the threats they face, and the work of the South Island Wildlife Hospital.
Citizen Science for a Changing Ocean - Auckland, 10 April
The ability of citizen scientists to dramatically increase the number and geographic range of observations beyond what scientists can do by themselves is powerful and of growing importance as the pace of change in our marine environment increases. The evening included opportunities to engage with Steph Hay and Dimitri Colella from the Auckland Council Biosecurity Team, learn about using iNaturalist with photographer Shaun Lee, and practice testing water quality and using quadrats with MERC scientists and educators Dr Laura Jordan-Smith and Tom Broughton. Clinton Duffy gave a fantastic talk about a variety of citizen science initiatives and how valuable citizen science contributions can be for helping marine scientists better understand changes occurring in marine habitats. Thank you for support from Foundation North through Seaweek.
