Forest & Bird - The Remarkable Seaweeds of Wellington

Forest & Bird Wellington Branch are pleased to host a talk by Dr Wendy Nelson, esteemed seaweed expert, as part of the Wellington Seaweed Festival.

Now at the Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland Museum Senior Research Fellow and an honorary professor at the University of Auckland, Wendy is New Zealand’s pre-eminent seaweed expert. She has documented the diversity of New Zealand’s seaweeds from the Rangitāhua/Kermadecs to the Subantarctics, conducting research on taxonomy, evolution, algal ecology, alien seaweeds, seaweed aquaculture and commercial harvesting. She has shown how important New Zealand is in understanding the evolution of the world’s seaweeds; campaigned to remove aggressive weeds from our coastal waters; and worked to generate new knowledge on ocean acidification.

At this talk Wendy will explore and celebrate the diversity of different habitats and very rich seaweed flora we are fortunate enough to have in the lower North Island. While celebrating this diversity, Wendy will discuss why we also need to be mindful of the challenges marine algae face.

There will be opportunity to socialise and grab refreshments from 6:30pm, with the talk commencing at 7pm.

This event is part of the Te Whanganui a Tara Seaweed Festival 1-9th March 2025. See the full programme here: loverimurimu.org/festival