To meet new people, to hear new stories of what is accomplished in other places, to learn more techniques and skills would be a powerful catalyst for the New Zealand efforts. In turn, we as a New Zealand team would bring our skills, our tales of initiatives and innovations, many of which catch the ear of people throughout the world. Our presence can mend that sense of isolation on all sides, which often hampers local efforts. The NBio website will be covering events from the conference. We hope to be able to arrange this coverage via the internet, as it happens.
Sponsorship is needed to get six people to Canada.
Being workers outside the usual agencies of government and university, in community groups often without funding for development of staff, the team looks to private and corporate donations as the chief means of finance. The conference organisers are working to secure some funding, but it is uncertain how much can be received from that source. The research team headed by Bob Creese at the Leigh Marine Lab want to know. The breeding habits of pipi are something of a mystery. It's known that the shellfish reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the sea over the summertime.