Well, another NETS has been and gone and “touch, pause, engage” seemed to stimulate the majority of you who provided feedback, both via evaluation forms and messages to members of the organising committee.
During NETS we were “touched” by progress in the areas of weed and vertebrate pest control by our keynote speakers, we paused” to consider the great steps towards restoration of degraded ecosystems around the Waikato, and finally we “engaged” in the discussion groups looking at technology in the field, pests or resources and aquatic surveillance. At least that was the plan, and I’m sure other interpretations of the theme were made!
On behalf of the committee, I’d like to sincerely thank all the keynote speakers, the other presenters and chairs of each session, workshop and field trip organisers and helpers, and for everyone who came along and made the event such a big success.
We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our sponsors and special thanks go to the major sponsors:
Environment Waikato, University of Waikato Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology Research, Landcare Research, MAF Biosecurity New Zealand, and AgChallenge.
My personal highlights were Kay Gregory’s welcome to Hamilton; Ben Minehan’s excellent presentation on battles with Chilean needle grass (worthy recipient of the Stook); Lynley and Carolyn’s joint presentation of the Peter Ingram Memorial Award; the band (especially when it was raining men!!); and Kingsley Field’s masterful closing address.
Our committee worked together very well, with plenty of humour and everyone made major contributions to the planning, preparation and running the seminar. Many thanks go to Sara Brill, Jeanie Byers, Kevin Christie, Kirsten Crawford, Chris Hale, Trevor James, Andy Laurenson, Wendy Mead and Heidi Pene.
Carolyn Lewis was our conference organiser, and did she organise!! Thanks Carolyn, we couldn’t have done it without you.
So, on to Queenstown for NETS2009. Hope to see you all there.
View Gallery
The program from the conference can be viewed here.
Cheers
Paul Champion
Chair of NETS2008 Organising Committee
