GeoHab conference champions receive award
Congratulations to the bid champions who have secured GeoHab – the Marine Geological and Biological Habitat Mapping Conference for New Zealand.
Dr Sally Watson, Dr Susi Woelz and Dr Alan Orpin were recognised for their work in winning GeoHab 2027 at the New Zealand Business Events Bid Champion Awards 2025 at Eden Park.
Taking place in Paihia in 2027, the event will welcome around 200 scientists, industry and technical experts working in marine mapping to support sustainable ocean management and planning.
The conference bid was led by Dr Sally Watson, marine geophysicist at Earth Sciences New Zealand and the University of Auckland, with support from Tourism New Zealand Business Events.
The win comes as part of Tourism New Zealand’s partnership with the Geoscience Society of New Zealand to encourage more earth science events to our country.
“New Zealand is home to world-class marine environments and does leading research in this field. New Zealand is a natural laboratory for geologists. We have almost every geological setting available. It is super unique,” Watson says.
GeoHab president Dr Mary Young from Deakin University, Australia, says: “New Zealand has long been a hub for innovation in marine geological and habitat mapping and hosting the conference in New Zealand will strengthen collaborations across the Asia-Pacific. It’s an ideal setting to highlight the value of marine mapping in supporting sustainable ocean management, and to inspire the next generation of researchers working to learn about and protect our oceans.”
Learn more about the funding and support Tourism New Zealand’s Business Events team offers to help you make a successful bid: businessevents.newzealand.com
Dr Susi Woelz, TNZ chief executive René de Monchy, and Dr Alan Orpin
Geoscience Society of New Zealand
PO Box 7003
Newtown
Wellington 6242
Administrator:
Nicki Sayers
Newsletter articles for consideration:
Editor@gsnz.org.nz
The GSNZ is a member organisation of the Royal Society
Te Apārangi
