EIT Environmental Studies

24/03/2026

Environmental Studies level 6 students have been making the most of the fine weather! This week they have been recording salinity within the Tutaekuri river as part of the Environmental monitoring and management course. The aim was to find the zone of the ‘salt-water wedge’.

23/03/2026

Ka rawe te mahi tīma!

09/03/2026

Another great biodiversity forum held at EIT. Fabulous to see some of our Environmental Studies graduates in attendance and to learn of some of the great environmental work happening in our communities.

02/02/2026

Those passionate about protecting the environment will soon be able to study a new suite of Environmental Studies programmes at EIT, following NZQA approval for the qualifications to begin in...

02/02/2026

Jess is one of our final-year degree students undertaking her research project. Below is Jess’s statement, along with the Survey Link : https://arcg.is/059i090
Briefly, Jess’s research aims to identify the main human activities that cause damage to Banded Dotterel habitats around Napier. I am writing to kindly ask if you would be willing to complete this survey. By hearing from a broader cross-section of the community, we will be able to obtain more representative data and reach stronger, more robust conclusions.

This is Jess’s request
Kia Ora, my name is Jess and I’m in my final year of a Bachelor of Environmental Studies at EIT. As part of my research, I’m investigating how suitable our local coastal areas and shingle beaches are as habitat for the native Pohowera (Banded Dotterel). Pohowera are a nationally vulnerable species, facing increasing pressures from predators and human activity. To support this research, I’ve created a short survey to learn more about how people use shingle beaches and coastal spaces around Napier and Hawke’s Bay. The questionnaire asks about your most frequently visited coastal spot and the types of activities you enjoy there. You’re welcome to complete it more than once if you visit multiple locations. Your input will also help gauge public views on how we balance recreation with protecting our wildlife. Thank you for your time and input.
Survey Link : https://arcg.is/059i090

Image credit: F. Voronesi

20/01/2026

18/11/2025

Running this awesome programme again in 2026. FEES FREE - get in quick!!

07/11/2025

Level 5 Environmental Studies students enjoyed a fantastic field trip earlier this week as part of the Introduction to Earth Systems Science course.
They visited the Ngaruroro River to explore the forces and processes that have shaped the Hawke’s Bay landscape, and to learn about the diverse soil types found throughout the region. A great day of hands-on learning in the field! If you are interested in environmental studies check out our website.

27/07/2025

Kia ora, environmental enthusiasts!

We have some exciting news to share from Dr Dinusha Jayathilake’s EIT Freshwater Ecology Team!

As many of you know, we've been carrying out eDNA testing for the past four years. Over the last couple of years, we've focused our sampling around the Fish & Game ponds and the adjacent Purimu Stream — and something amazing has come up.

We detected Banded kōkopu DNA in the samples!

Now, Banded kōkopu aren’t nationally endangered in Aotearoa— they’re relatively common — but they’re rare along the East Coast, including here in Hawke’s Bay. So, finding evidence of them is a big deal!

After detecting their eDNA in the Fish & Game ponds during our Freshwater Ecology practical sessions in 2024 and 2025, we began to wonder if there might be a resident or migratory group living there. Until now, we only suspected they may visit the outlet pond — we had no idea whether a population existed.

But on the night of 23rd July, that changed!

We went out for a spotlight fish survey with the help of Matthew Brady from DOC, and we found two Banded kōkopu!

This is a fantastic discovery and a huge step forward in understanding the freshwater biodiversity of our region.

A very special thank you goes out to our 2024 and 2025 Freshwater Ecology students for their contributions to eDNA sampling, and to Matthew Brady (DOC), Davey (Fish & Game), Sofia Costa (Level 7 Applied Biodiversity degree student), and Reon Mckeesick for their incredible support and teamwork during the spotlight survey. Your mahi made this moment possible!

We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about these special fish and what their presence means for the Fish & Game ponds and the wider ecosystem.

Stay tuned — and thank you for caring about our waterways!

05/07/2025

Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) student Emily Strong helped iwi identify remnants of the historic Seventy Mile Bush during a summer internship with Sustainable Hawke’s...

04/02/2025

Growing up on a Twyford orchard and living an outdoor life fostered a love for the environment which led Jordyn Campbell to study Environmental Management at EIT. This has proved to be a good...