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Colin Meurk

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New Zealand ecologist (born 1947)

Colin MeurkONZM
Meurk in 2021
BornColin Douglas Meurk
1947 (age 77–78)
Known forConservation advocacy and ecological restoration in Christchurch, New Zealand
Academic background
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury, University of Otago
ThesisAlpine phytoecology of the rainshadow mountains of Otago and Southland, New Zealand (1982)
Academic work
DisciplineEcology
Sub-disciplineNew Zealand native, landscape ecology and urban ecology
InstitutionsManaaki Whenua – Landcare Research

Colin Meurk ONZM (born 1947) is a New Zealand ecologist.

Education and academia

Meurk attended high school at St Andrew's College, Christchurch, graduating in 1965. In 1969 he completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Canterbury. Between 1970 and 1981 he completed a doctorate at the University of Otago, with his thesis analysing the production rate of plant biomass in tussock grassland at the southern end of the South Island.

In his role as a research fellow at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research he assisted in creating landscape models for creating ecological restoration plans across large areas, as well as a project to restore the ecology of the Waipara wine-growing region.

Advocacy

Meurk has advocated for improvements to the urban ecology of Christchurch. He serves as the president of the Travis Wetland trust and was a key figure in securing the wetland as a protected reserve when it was being considered as a location for a housing development in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is involved with ecological restoration projects there and across Christchurch. He has advocated for the creation of a predator free eco-sanctuary within the residential red zone, similar to the Zealandia project in Wellington. Meurk was instrumental in creating the Christchurch 360 trail; a walking track that circles Christchurch to demonstrate the wide ecological diversity of the area.

In 2021 Meurk was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the Governor-General of New Zealand for services to ecological restoration.

In 2022 he ran for a seat on the Christchurch City Council in the Fendalton ward, but was not successful.

References

  1. Meurk, Colin (1982), Alpine phytoecology of the rainshadow mountains of Otago and Southland, New Zealand (PDF), retrieved 17 October 2024
  2. ^ "Christchurch investiture ceremony - Friday 2 July 2021", Governor General of New Zealand, 2 July 2021, retrieved 17 October 2024
  3. ^ Ahrens, Chris, "Dr. Colin Meurk seeks to save ancient New Zealand", San Diego Reader, retrieved 17 October 2024
  4. "Swamp guardians fight urban development plans", The Press, p. 9, 7 October 1988, retrieved 7 November 2024
  5. Blakie, Megan (21 January 2024), "Waitākiri Eco-sanctuary", Christchurch Envirohub - The home of Environmental and Sustainable Groups in greater CHCH, retrieved 17 October 2024
  6. Frame, Bob, "In My Back Yard: The Christchurch 360 Trail", Chill - Explore with Us, retrieved 18 October 2024
  7. Daly, Jo (14 October 2022), Christchurch City Council 2022 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result (PDF), Christchurch City Council, retrieved 18 October 2024
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