Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology - Te Tumu Whakaoho Mauri o te Ao Koiora
The Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology identifies and researches the restoration of depleted populations, species and communities in ecosystems that have been impacted by human activity.
About our Centre
Our Centre provides excellence in scientific research, and delivers that research in a form to directly benefit the local community, conservation managers and the commercial sector.
We are an interdisciplinary Centre, based in the School of Biological Sciences at Victoria University of Wellington. Postgraduate students come to Victoria University from all over the world to receive the best training available in conservation management and research, in a country that has earned international acclaim for its conservation practices.
Our Location - Wellington
With its central location in New Zealand, Wellington City provides excellent connections with many local agencies and research institutions involved in biodiversity, conservation and biosecurity.
Active collaborations are maintained with:
- Department of Conservation (DoC)
- Environmental Futures Centre at Griffith University
- Karori Sanctuary Trust, Zealandia
- New Zealand Centre for Conservation Medicine at Auckland Zoo
- The Museum of New Zealand - Te Papa Tongarewa
- UN Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal
- Wellington Zoo
Funding
We seek national and international support, funding and collaboration to develop and sustain a suite of research programmes in biodiversity and restoration ecology.
Our Māori Name
Our Māori name has been carefully chosen to reflect the values we hold as a research Centre
Te Tumu Whakaoho Mauri o te Ao Koiora - The pillar restoring the life force of the natural environment.
Tumu is a post or pillar, used to hold things together or as a hitching post. Hakaoho means to awaken or restore. Mauri is life force or essence - all things must have mauri to be considered alive. Te Ao (the world) is short for Tai Ao, meaning the environment and Koiora means biology.
Our Mission
To undertake high quality research on biodiversity and restoration ecology, fostering cooperation and exchange, both locally and internationally, to benefit the sustainability and ecological management of natural resources, particularly in the New Zealand region.