title: Electrofishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: A previous fish community survey carried out in the Whangamarino Wetland system recorded 18 different fish species by netting, electrofishing, and interviews with local eel fishermen and reports from Acclimatisation Society staff (Strickland, 1980). Strickland reported that the most widespread and common species in the wetland were shortfinned eels, mosquitofish, goldfish and catfish. In August 2007 and March 2008, the Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research (CBER) were contracted to carry out an electric fishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland and its tributaries. Boat and backpack electrofishing caught a diverse range of native and introduced fish. A total of 1,491 fish comprising 8 native fish species and 5 introduced fish species were caught in a total fished area of 26,600 m2 or 2.66 ha from a total of 34 sites. Koi carp, shortfinned eels, goldfish and common smelt were the most widespread fish species throughout the wetland system. Fish distribution, density and biomass varied between sites throughout the Whangamarino Wetland as well as between the two different time periods (August 2007 and March 2008). Mean densities and biomasses of fish species at most sites increased substantially in March 2008 compared to August 2007.

text: Electrofishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland A previous fish community survey carried out in the Whangamarino Wetland system recorded 18 different fish species by netting, electrofishing, and interviews with local eel fishermen and reports from Acclimatisation Society staff (Strickland, 1980). Strickland reported that the most widespread and common species in the wetland were shortfinned eels, mosquitofish, goldfish and catfish. In August 2007 and March 2008, the Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research (CBER) were contracted to carry out an electric fishing survey of the fish community in the Whangamarino Wetland and its tributaries. Boat and backpack electrofishing caught a diverse range of native and introduced fish. A total of 1,491 fish comprising 8 native fish species and 5 introduced fish species were caught in a total fished area of 26,600 m2 or 2.66 ha from a total of 34 sites. Koi carp, shortfinned eels, goldfish and common smelt were the most widespread fish species throughout the wetland system. Fish distribution, density and biomass varied between sites throughout the Whangamarino Wetland as well as between the two different time periods (August 2007 and March 2008). Mean densities and biomasses of fish species at most sites increased substantially in March 2008 compared to August 2007.

year: 2008-07-14

title: Obituary − Emeritus Professor Dr John Davidson McCraw (1925−2014) MBE, MSc NZ, DSc Well, CRSNZ, FNZSSS.

authors: Tonkin, Philip J.

abstract: John McCraw was an Earth scientist who began working as a pedologist with Soil Bureau, DSIR, then became the Foundation Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, inspiring a new generation to study and work in Earth sciences . In retirement, John McCraw was an author and historian with a special emphasis on Central Otago as well as the Waikato region. Throughout his career, marked especially by exemplary leadership, accomplished administration, and commitment to his staff and students at the University of Waikato, John McCraw also contributed to the communities in which he lived through public service organizations and as a public speaker. He received a number of awards including an MBE, fellowship, and companionship, and, uniquely, is commemorated also with a glacier, a fossil, and a museum-based research room named for him. Emeritus Professor John McCraw passed away on the 14th of December, 2014. An obituary, entitled “Dedicated to earth science and his students”, was published in the Waikato Times on the 10th of January, 2015.

text: Obituary − Emeritus Professor Dr John Davidson McCraw (1925−2014) MBE, MSc NZ, DSc Well, CRSNZ, FNZSSS. John McCraw was an Earth scientist who began working as a pedologist with Soil Bureau, DSIR, then became the Foundation Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, inspiring a new generation to study and work in Earth sciences . In retirement, John McCraw was an author and historian with a special emphasis on Central Otago as well as the Waikato region. Throughout his career, marked especially by exemplary leadership, accomplished administration, and commitment to his staff and students at the University of Waikato, John McCraw also contributed to the communities in which he lived through public service organizations and as a public speaker. He received a number of awards including an MBE, fellowship, and companionship, and, uniquely, is commemorated also with a glacier, a fossil, and a museum-based research room named for him. Emeritus Professor John McCraw passed away on the 14th of December, 2014. An obituary, entitled “Dedicated to earth science and his students”, was published in the Waikato Times on the 10th of January, 2015.

year: 2015-03-06

title: Breaking the browsing barrier for historic search of newspaper texts

authors: Keegan, Te Taka Adrian Gregory

subjects: computer science

abstract: Traditionally, to find information in a newspaper collection it has been necessary to painstakingly browse through the individual issues hoping that relevant words will catch your eye. Researchers of New Zealand’s encounter history received a boost when, in 1996, the Alexander Turnbull Library produced a collection on microfiche totaling almost 18,000 pages and covering a printing period from 1842 to 1933. While having all the newspapers in a single collection was a large step forward, browsing or searching for information in this microfiche collection was still time consuming.
By incorporating the collection into a digital library with an Internet interface, and by enabling full-text search, we have broken this browsing barrier. Making the information available this way is even more significant as the majority of the collection is written in the Māori language; we have created a Māori language resource that is sorely needed by education and research institutes, and one that provides quick and accurate access to the previously obscure source. The process involved in developing this unique digital library collection, the advantages of traditional newspaper stored in this medium, and the possibilities that we intend to investigate in the future, will be discussed in this paper.

text: Breaking the browsing barrier for historic search of newspaper texts Traditionally, to find information in a newspaper collection it has been necessary to painstakingly browse through the individual issues hoping that relevant words will catch your eye. Researchers of New Zealand’s encounter history received a boost when, in 1996, the Alexander Turnbull Library produced a collection on microfiche totaling almost 18,000 pages and covering a printing period from 1842 to 1933. While having all the newspapers in a single collection was a large step forward, browsing or searching for information in this microfiche collection was still time consuming.
By incorporating the collection into a digital library with an Internet interface, and by enabling full-text search, we have broken this browsing barrier. Making the information available this way is even more significant as the majority of the collection is written in the Māori language; we have created a Māori language resource that is sorely needed by education and research institutes, and one that provides quick and accurate access to the previously obscure source. The process involved in developing this unique digital library collection, the advantages of traditional newspaper stored in this medium, and the possibilities that we intend to investigate in the future, will be discussed in this paper.

year: 2001