IRANZ news briefs
TV presenter Sonia Gray speaks with the team at Mātai Medical Research about emerging ADHD research in an episode of her podcast "No Such Thing As Normal". Photo: Mātai Medical Research.
Dragonfly Data Science: Deckhand updated to support new crayfish reporting rules
On 1 April, new crayfish regulations came into effect across Aotearoa, introducing updated reporting requirements alongside broader changes to crayfish fishery management. As part of this shift, Dragonfly's electronic logbook platform Deckhand was updated to reflect the new fisheries circulars, ensuring fishers could continue reporting accurately and without disruption.
For many commercial fishers, the changes arrived alongside tighter controls, area closures, and an ongoing need to record reliable, timely catch data from the water. Ensuring reporting systems meet the stipulations of these updates is critical to maintaining compliance in a changing regulatory environment.
Cawthron: Mussel biology programme celebrates 15 years of inspiring Te Tauihu young scientists
The NCEA Level 3 mussel biology programme has reached a significant milestone. The 2026 cohort of students in May were the 15th to complete the workshop at Cawthron's Aquaculture Park.
The annual series of two-day workshops is part of Cawthron's community outreach and education programme. It supports students and teachers to complete an NCEA Level 3 practical investigation assessment using equipment and techniques not typically available in schools.
This year, 85 students from Nelson College for Girls, Queen Charlotte College, Golden Bay High School, Waimea College and Nayland College took part in the programme.
Sustainable surfacing features at WSP Research showcase
Events held at WSP's Auckland and Petone offices in June highlighted research helping shape a more sustainable future through new surfacing materials, smarter design, and improved use of existing resources.
Presentations included updates on the Tyrewise product stewardship scheme for end-of-life tyres and research into innovative re-use applications, including the use of crumb rubber in road surfacing. WSP researchers also shared progress on a world-first 100% pine tree-based alternative to conventional roading bitumen.
Early results suggest the pine-based material performs similarly to fossil-fuel-derived bitumen, offering significant potential for more sustainable road construction and maintenance.
Former Mātai-Holdsworth scholar returns as MRI trainee
Tyla Kahukiwa-Larby's education journey has come full circle with her appointment as a trainee MRI medical imaging technologist at Gisborne's Mātai Medical Research Institute.
A recipient of the Mātai-Holdsworth scholarship in 2022, Tyla completed a three-year medical imaging degree at UCOL in Palmerston North before gaining clinical experience in the radiology department at Gisborne Hospital.
Her return to Mātai highlights the role of scholarships and training pathways in supporting the next generation of medical imaging professionals.
Motu: 2026 update - Guide to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme
Motu has released the 2026 edition of A Guide to the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, updating its previous 2022 resource.
The guide explains how the NZ ETS operates, outlines its key design features, and examines policy developments through to March 2026. It also includes updated figures and analysis covering major changes across the scheme.
Topics include agricultural emissions pricing proposals, changes to free allocation settings, new forest classifications, restrictions on exotic forestry registrations, and plans to recognise additional emissions removals.
Malaghan: Building the RNA Development Platform
Since joining the Malaghan Institute in 2022, Dr Rebecca McKenzie has played a key role in strengthening New Zealand's RNA research capability.
As a quality control pillar lead within the New Zealand RNA Development Platform, Rebecca contributes to a national collaboration involving Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Auckland, the Malaghan Institute, and the University of Otago.
The platform aims to build end-to-end research and manufacturing capability for mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, supporting clinical and commercial research across New Zealand's health and biotechnology sectors.
Mātai: No such thing as normal
TV presenter Sonia Gray speaks with the team at Mātai about emerging ADHD research in an episode of her podcast No Such Thing As Normal.
The project, led by Professor Justin Fernandez at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, involves collaboration with Mātai researchers exploring how advanced brain imaging can improve understanding of ADHD and neurodivergent brain function.
The discussion highlights how scientific insights into brain activity can help validate lived experiences and support greater understanding of neurodiversity within families and communities.
Malaghan: The science behind tomorrow's treatments
Immune-based treatments are transforming how conditions such as cancer, allergies and inflammatory diseases are treated, but these advances rely on a deep understanding of how the immune system functions.
Professor Franca Ronchese has spent decades at the forefront of immunology research, investigating the fundamental mechanisms that underpin immune responses and inform the development of new therapies.
Her work demonstrates the importance of foundational science in building the knowledge that ultimately leads to improved health outcomes.
HERA Welding Inspector Level 1 to AS/NZS 2214.1 Qualification Pathway
HERA has outlined a pathway for holders of the HERA Welding Inspector Level 1 qualification to transition to the AS/NZS 2214.1 Welding Inspector certificate.
Eligibility is subject to applicants remaining continuously employed within the welding and fabrication industry and having their inspection experience verified by an appropriate Responsible Welding Coordinator or client.
Applications are reviewed and approved by HERA following submission of the required documentation.
HERA: Seismic Weld Design; What the Research Actually Shows
In this podcast episode of Stirring the Pot, Hafez, HERA's lead research engineer, talks about the weld science quietly reshaping how steel structures are designed and built across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the most seismically active countries on Earth. So the question of how our steel structures perform during an earthquake is not theoretical. It is urgent. And the answer depends, in large part, on something most people never think about. The weld.
Date posted: 25 June 2026