SCION scientists Kate and Emma provided a thought-provoking and investigative set of activities as we explored microplastics at Waiotahe beach.

Microplastics threaten NZ coastal regions, this is one of the key take home messages from an MBIE Endeavour Funded programme, AIM2 (Aotearoa Impacts and Mitigations of Microplastics) led by ESR’s Dr Olga Pantos and Dr Grant Northcott from Northcott Research Consultants Ltd.

The investigation which began in 2018 brought together a range of experts who sought to understand the threat and improve knowledge of how microplastics are impacting environments across NZ. Their study was highly successful with a symposium being held on 17th May in Wellington to discuss finding.