From 19-22 November, a large team from Fish Futures gathered in Rotorua for the annual New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society | Ngā Kohinga Wai o Aotearoa (NZFSS) Conference. This week-long event provided an excellent opportunity for our scientists to connect with leading freshwater experts, share key outcomes from our research, and learn from others in the field.
We were thrilled to have a diverse mix of team members in attendance, from students to senior researchers. A prominent theme throughout the conference was the kōura (freshwater crayfish), which featured in many presentations. This is particularly significant given the importance of kōura for our research partner – Te Arawa Lakes Trust; it was great to be back in their rohe, to experience the manaakitanga, and to be treated to presentations from William Anaru and Dr Ian Kusabs.
We were delighted to celebrate the achievements of our team members as well:
- Professor Angus McIntosh was awarded the 2023 NZFSS Medal
- Dr Simon Stewart received the 2023 NZFSS Early Career Researcher Medal
Both delivered insightful and inspiring plenary presentations, showcasing their expertise and commitment to freshwater science.
We are also super proud of the Fish Futures early career rōpū who hosted two special sessions at the Conference. A ‘Fish in relation’ session highlighted the awesome postgraduate research underway and ‘Should we bring back the upokororo?’ stimulated thought-provoking discussion on novel freshwater communities.
Looking ahead, we are excited to reunite the Fish Futures whānau at our annual hui in Motupōhue (Bluff) in March 2025!