Paihia in New Zealand’s Bay of Islands will host GeoHab 2027, the international conference for marine geological and biological habitat mapping. The event will bring around 200 scientists, industry and technical experts to the coastal town in 2027.
The conference focuses on marine mapping to support sustainable ocean management and planning. Dr Sally Watson, marine geophysicist at Earth Sciences New Zealand and the University of Auckland, led the successful bid with support from Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
“Marine mapping informs the way we use ocean resources, and ways to protect them,” Watson said. “Things are moving so quickly in terms of climate change and its impact on our marine ecosystems. If we don’t know what’s there, we cannot manage it.”
The win is part of Tourism New Zealand’s partnership with the Geoscience Society of New Zealand to attract more earth science events to the country. GeoHab president Dr Mary Young from Deakin University, Australia, commented that hosting the conference in New Zealand will “strengthen collaborations across the Asia-Pacific”.
The conference typically takes place in the northern hemisphere. Watson hopes the New Zealand location will boost attendance from Asia and the Pacific region.
“The conference has a strong focus on early career and student participation and can showcase what New Zealand has to offer in terms of research,” Watson said. Tourism New Zealand global manager business events Penelope Ryan added that Paihia’s marine environment offers “incredible experiential opportunities for this conference – both for learning and for leisure”.
