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Source: University of Waikato
Estuaries are places Kiwis flock to in summer. They are where freshwater rivers meet the ocean, and where people live and visit.
The estuaries dotted along New Zealand’s coastline provide many economic and recreational opportunities like swimming, boating, sightseeing and collecting kaimoana (food from the ocean).
But the health of our estuaries is declining, and it’s not just a problem in New Zealand.
Many major cities around the world are built around estuaries – they are socially and geographically significant. Their worsening state is a global issue.
Currently, more than 15 University of Waikato PhD students are carrying out important research into New Zealand estuaries in the hopes their findings will contribute to national and worldwide efforts to monitor and improve estuary health.