Kiran Chug writes in the Dominion Post about a two-day conference starting at Te Papa today in which scientists will highlight, and look at, the work being done in the Kermadec region of New Zealand’s waters.
The area is being considered for mining, but is also being increasingly recognised as an important example of marine biodiversity.
An excerpt: (read in full here)
“The conference aims to highlight the scientific work being done in a region also being eyed up for deep-sea mining.
“The Kermadecs, about 200 kilometres north of Auckland, make up about 15 per cent of New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone and the region has been nominated for World Heritage Status.
“The conference is being organised by public policy think tank Pew Environment Group. Its global ocean legacy director, Jay Nelson, says now is the time to raise the awareness of the public, the Government and officials of how special a region New Zealand has in its waters.
“”On a global scale the Kermadec region stands out as biologically and geologically unique, partly because of its geographic isolation and unspoilt nature.””