Permalink for this collection
The Department of Environmental Management promotes the advancement of knowledge, through teaching and research, that will allow the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources.
Staff publications and research activities reflect the well established interdisciplinary nature of the Department; research interests include environmental policy, planning and politics, natural resources and environmental economics, ecological economics, transport studies, biodiversity and biodiversity policy, ecological evaluation, environmental ethics, environmental education, women and the environment, the Treaty of Waitangi, Māori approaches to environmental management, indigenous peoples and sustainability and socio-cultural and political perspectives of the environment.
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Open Access Claiming the right to the city: The politics of urban reform coalitions in Lagos(SAGE, 2025) Olajide, Oluwafemi; Lawanson, TaibatThis paper examines how grassroots coalitions mobilize for the right to the city, the politics they encounter and the extent to which their actions result in urban reforms benefiting marginalized communities. The paper invokes a discourse on the right to the city as the mobilizing frame for grassroots social movement encounters against exclusionary development and displacement. Drawing on interviews and documents, we situate this discourse within two case studies of forced eviction in Lagos, Nigeria. To ground the investigation and highlight the tactics and politics of coalitions, the paper applies the conceptual framework of the invited–invented space of encounter. Our findings reveal that state-led neoliberal urban restructuring and spatial displacement in Lagos have triggered grassroots movements and the formation of coalitions, which, depending on the politics encountered, have both enhanced and constrained the struggle for transformative urban reforms that enable the right to the city for marginalized communities.Item Open Access First report of accumulation of Lyngbyatoxin-A in edible shellfish in Aotearoa New Zealand from marine benthic cyanobacteria(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-12) Biessy, Laura; Puddick, Jonathan; Wood, Susanna; Selwood, Andrew I; Carbines, Megan; Smith, Kirsty FThis study reports the first documented accumulation of lyngbyatoxin-a (LTA), a cyanotoxin produced by marine benthic cyanobacteria, in edible shellfish in Aotearoa New Zealand. The study investigates two bloom events in 2022 and 2023 on Waiheke Island, where hundreds of tonnes of marine benthic cyanobacterial mats (mBCMs) washed ashore each summer. Genetic analysis identified the cyanobacterium responsible for the blooms as Okeania sp., a genus typically found in tropical marine ecosystems. Analysis by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry indicated that the cyanobacteria produced a potent dermatoxin, lyngbyatoxin-a (LTA), and that LTA had accumulated in marine snails, rock oysters and cockles collected near the mats. Snails contained the highest levels of LTA (up to 10,500 µg kg¯¹). The study also demonstrated that the LTA concentration was stable in composted mats for several months. The presence of LTA in edible species and its stability over time raise concerns about the potential health risks to humans consuming LTA-contaminated seafood. This underlines the need for further studies assessing the risks of human exposure to LTA through seafood consumption, particularly as climate change and eutrophication are expected to increase the frequency of mBCM blooms. The study highlights the need to develop public health risk management strategies for mBCMs.Item Open Access NZ’s gene technology reform carries benefits and risks – a truly independent regulator will be vital(2025-02-03) Nissen, SylviaGenetic modification is back on the political agenda in New Zealand. The issue may not be as hotly contentious as it once was, but big questions remain about the way forward.Item Embargo The future of solar farming in New Zealand(New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management, 2024-09) Page, Shannon; de Koning, Wim; Tozer, Peter; Ramilan, ThiagarajahThis article examines the underlying drivers of solar growth within New Zealand – the size, location and timing of solar farm developments, as well as upcoming policy changes that may influence them. The implications and opportunities for farmers and landowners are also discussed.Publication Open Access Establishing social licence to operate solar farms in Aotearoa New Zealand: An analysis of community perceptions in Canterbury : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 2024) Sutherland, PortiaAotearoa New Zealand (ANZ) has experienced a proliferation in the number of proposed and consented solar farms in rural areas across the country, positioning grid-connected solar electricity generation as a core component in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. In combination with enabling market and socio-political conditions, community acceptance is a critical component for the successful implementation of solar farm developments (Pascaris et al., 2021). International research and literature show that acceptance of solar farms is influenced by numerous factors and varies between different communities and groups of people; however, attitudes and perceptions towards solar farms in ANZ and how these vary by different factors is unknown. Therefore, this research aims to provide a comprehensive picture of community attitudes and perceptions towards solar farms using Canterbury as a case study area and identify opportunities and challenges for establishing social licence to operate for solar farms in ANZ. A quantitative survey questionnaire was developed and shared with groups across Canterbury with a particular focus on rural communities. Of the 447 participants that completed the survey questionnaire, the majority were positive towards solar farms at national, regional and local levels, with 61 percent of respondents expressing ‘positive’ or ‘very positive’ attitudes towards solar farms in their local community. Attitudes varied by participants’ level of knowledge, local land use and district of residence. Socioeconomic and environmental mitigation measures, mixed land use approaches and site selection were identified as factors that may influence acceptance, and the importance of public involvement in the planning process for solar farms was revealed. Overall, the findings from this research highlight the importance of understanding variations in community perceptions and early community engagement and public involvement for effective strategic planning of solar farms, which have several implications for policy and planning in ANZ.Publication Open Access What is a hazard and do we need to protect it? Greater Christchurch case study on the tension between the National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land 2022 and National Environmental Standard for Assessing and Managing Contaminants in Soil to Protect Human Health 2011 : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master in Planning at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 2024) Ellis, StephanieNew Zealand has a long history of complex agricultural processes threatened by erosion, urbanization and contamination. The recent National Policy Statement for the Protection of Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL) 2022 aims to safeguard the land for food or primary production. However, certain agriculture-related activities are identified as hazardous to the land and could result in contamination. The purpose of my research is to identify if there is any interaction between the new and existing national standards in addressing potential contamination. The NPS-HPL seems to contain matters it may not have intended and could affect the way farming and agricultural activities are approved or carried out on productive land. This research investigates the interpretations of soil protection and agrochemicals in the Greater Christchurch area. Quantitative methods inform qualitative methods to understand how these tensions are addressed in local government policies and plans, which are required to give effect to the national directives. The Greater Christchurch regulatory bodies have removed many provisions from their district plans for hazardous substances but note the interactions between agrochemicals and soil contamination. Accumulative non-point deposition of persistent organic pollutants from agricultural activities might affect future generations. The data suggests an interaction between the use of agrochemicals and soil contamination. However, it is undetermined how long this would take for soil productivity to be adversely affected. This research discusses the effect of sustainability, avoiding adverse effects, and contamination highlighted in the NPS-HPL. Possible interpretation may require councils and local governments to take further action in managing hazardous agricultural activities. Whether the NPS-HPL gives clarity in a time of fast-paced legislation or allows the independent local government authorities to make their own decisions for their region is yet to be seen. Identifying if agrichemicals are hazardous to highly productive land and if independent levels need to be set for their continued use can be expected to be a challenge for policymakers.Publication Open Access Revitalising public spaces through collaboration and citizen empowerment : An exploration of Tactical Urbanism’s role in Aotearoa New Zealand : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 2024) Balmer, NathanUrban centres face many complex challenges including rapid urbanisation, car dependency, and climate change, which are increasingly difficult to address through standard planning mechanisms. Bureaucratic and prescriptive systems have restricted the effectiveness of urban interventions, often escalating project risk to the point where the costs outweigh the potential benefits. Consequently, many urban spaces have become low quality and fail to respond to the needs of their communities. Tactical Urbanism (TU) offers a flexible, community-focused alternative incorporating lower-cost, iterative placemaking through experimentation and adaptation. By prioritising community participation, TU facilitates a more responsive and engaging process that can address specific issues, while supporting broader strategic directives. This concept has gained traction worldwide, with numerous successful implementations, including in Aotearoa NZ. The field has evolved towards a more institutionalised planning strategy, highlighted through local examples. This research utilises a mixed-methods approach to explore how TU can best be utilised in Aotearoa NZ, by investigating case studies and local professional experiences, to develop recommendations for future practice. Notable local examples include Waka Kotahi’s ‘Innovating Streets for People’ and the ongoing ‘Streets for People’ initiatives, which have evolved over time, though an optimal approach befitting of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique context has yet to be established. This research uses a mixed-methods approach to explore how TU can best be utilised in Aotearoa NZ, by investigating international case studies, and local professional perspectives, and identifying key success factors for future interventions. The findings highlight that while past case studies provide useful foundations, the success of these projects depends on the integration of the core principles of TU, namely, community-focused strategies that are responsive to local contexts. Key recommendations include: (1) Catering to context, (2) Relationship building, and (3) Intervening with intent. Together, these strategies offer a framework to enhance the effectiveness of TU, to optimise its implementation in Aotearoa NZ.Publication Open Access “I tried to keep quiet but my ancestors wouldn’t let me": Rakatahi Māori and local government planning and decision-making in Aotearoa : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning at Te Whare Wānaka o Aoraki Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 2025) Docking, AliceThe call from Māori for greater autonomy in planning and decision-making has become increasingly evident at a national level, calling out the Government for their role in inequality and Māori marginalisation (Maipi-Clarke, 2023). Rakatahi Māori (Māori Youth) make up a large portion of this group, equating to 46.5% of all Māori in Aotearoa (Te Whata, 2023). Through their lived experiences, this research investigates the role of Rakatahi Māori in Local Government planning and decision-making in Aotearoa, focusing on Waitaha. Specifically, this research determines the pathways for their participation in Local Government, the extent to which Local Government institutions give effect to the opinions and values of Rakatahi Māori, and the perceived barriers and limitations to Rakatahi Māori participation in planning and decision-making. The research is conceptualised through te Rakaia Awa, where each section follows the flow of the Awa as it travels across Kā Pākihi Whakatekateka a Waitaha, ki uta ki tai. Conversational interviews were informed by te Tapatoru, a qualitative model of whanaukataka to support Rakatahi Māori wellbeing within policy and practice. The research considers the lived experience of five Rakatahi Mana Whenua and two Rakatahi Mātāwaka. Whilst the findings from these kōrero expressed varying levels of discontent with their experience in Local Government, a core theme emerged recognising that Rakatahi Māori hold aspirations for what these spaces could be. Weaving together the findings, in the context of the literature, the research presents three key insights. The first insight is flexible approaches are required to support Rakatahi Māori, recognising the role of whānau and whanaukataka. The second insight moves beyond a structural shift and raises the need for improved cultural safety. It recognises that this is an iterative process centring the focus onto the experience of the Rakatahi. The final insight is the recognition of the expectations set upon Rakatahi Mana Whenua verses Rakatahi Mātāwaka and considers the challenge of being asked to navigate conflicting responsibilities. The insights indicate that Youth representative spaces are not functioning as they could. They signal a tension between the Local Government institutional structure and the realisation of the aspirations of Rakatahi Māori. Therefore, this research suggests that the aspirations of Rakatahi Māori provide a guide to reconceptualising what the future of Rakatahi Māori representative spaces could look like. The research recognises that Rakatahi Māori representation may need to vary away from the expectations of the contemporary adult context and asks, who will take responsibility for ensuring that the aspirations of Rakatahi Māori are heard and upheld?Publication Open Access Assessing support for cat bylaws in Aotearoa New Zealand : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning at Lincoln University(Lincoln University, 2024) Blackstock, NatalieCompanion, stray, and feral cats have a significant impact on Aotearoa New Zealand’s (NZ) biodiversity. Legislation such as the Wildlife Act 1953, the Conservation Act 1987, and the Biosecurity Act 1993 help mitigate the effects of feral and stray cats. However, addressing the challenges posed by companion cats is a complex issue for decision-makers due to the bonds between these cats and their owners. The current strategy to address the impacts of companion cats is the creation of bylaws by local councils. Bylaw clauses such as microchipping, registration, desexing and containment have animal welfare benefits for cats and cat owners, as desexing reduces the risk of reproductive diseases and unwanted behaviours, and microchipping and registration help return lost cats to their owners. However, as cat management is a highly emotive issue, it has been considered difficult to gain public acceptance for cat-related bylaws. Using a mixed methods approach, this study analysed public submissions from five NZ councils to gain deeper insight into community attitudes and interactions towards cats and cat bylaws. Ten themes were identified through qualitative analysis: nuisance, human and livestock health concerns, toxoplasmosis risk to wildlife, conservation/environmental concerns, benefits of cats, cost concerns, stray and feral cat management, containment/curfews, bylaw support, and anti-regulation sentiments. These themes demonstrate the issues surrounding cat management, and how the public feels about bylaw requirements. Quantitative statistical analysis was used to determine the significant statistical similarities and differences among the councils. Overall, all regions studied showed majority support for cat bylaws, indicating that nationwide cat management legislation may be supported by the NZ public. However, the distinct regional concerns identified in the submissions suggest that the implementation of national legislation would require local authorities to collaborate closely with communities to address these issues. Furthermore, this study supports the need to redefine the legal definitions of stray cats to better address the complexity of human-cat interactions and enable better management of these cats. Additionally, the findings demonstrate that cat containment remains a contentious issue for the NZ public, although there was a small, vocal group in all regions that advocated for mandatory containment measures. Further research into public attitudes towards cat containment is needed to assess the level of support for such measures, both regionally and nationally. Ultimately, successful cat management in NZ requires a careful balance between national standards and local adaptation, focused on encouraging and supporting responsible cat ownership to address the environmental and social impacts of cats.Publication Restricted Submissions, social media, and news reports: Public engagement for three Christchurch cycleway projects : A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning(Lincoln University, 2024) Bisley, BronwenCycleways generate lively discussion, with responses to new proposals ranging from passionate opposition to support. How does this commentary influence the realisation of cycleways? What can these Christchurch cycleway projects tell us about public engagement processes? There are many platforms today to express an opinion: formal consultation processes, social media, even the local news. With a multi-case study approach, this research focuses on three cycleway projects in Christchurch. Qualitative research methods are used to identify key themes across the cases, including the challenges and limits of public engagement, and common concerns regarding cycleway infrastructure. This work highlights the evolving nature of public engagement and has implications for public consultation best practice.Item Open Access Great expectations for collective management: The mismatch between supply and demand for catchment groups(Resilience Alliance, 2025-01-30) Sinner, Jim; Tadaki, Marc; Kilvington, Margaret; Challies, Edward; Tane, Paratene; Robb, ChristinaGlobally, agri-environmental policies targeting individual farmers have made little progress on the problem of diffuse water pollution, leading to increased demand for collective approaches to manage cumulative effects. To understand the emerging supply of collective institutions to meet this demand, researchers have studied local initiatives in many countries. However, the challenges of crafting new collective institutions are still poorly understood. In Aotearoa New Zealand, many farmers have established catchment groups in response to regulation of farming practices and public concern about unhealthy waterways. These groups typically do not have the features commonly expected of collective management institutions, e.g., few have specific environmental objectives or agreed actions or practices to protect resource sustainability. Our research with catchment group leaders, Indigenous representatives, and policy actors revealed differences in their logics about and expectations of catchment groups. These differences have given rise to a mismatch between the type of collective action that is in demand by government and the type being supplied by catchment groups. To bridge the supply-demand gap, agencies should seek to better understand their own logics while acknowledging the importance of groups’ priorities, and support groups to articulate goals and strategies and how these relate to government objectives. Conversely, catchment groups can be equipped with tools and insights to help them better understand their own motivations and goals, and those of agencies and other actors, to help them navigate these complex ideas and relationships in challenging and changing environments. In settler-colonial landscapes, resources should also be provided for Indigenous groups to realize their own aspirations and to bring their genealogical narratives to these conversations. More generally, it is important for agencies and other observers to understand what motivates collective entities, rather than assume that they share the management logic that informs collective management as described in the literature.Publication Open Access Young people and future generations in environmental policy and planning in Aotearoa New Zealand : A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Planning(Lincoln University, 2024) Nelson, Angela ElizabethThis dissertation examines how young people and future generations are taken into account in environmental policy and planning in Aotearoa New Zealand. Decisions made today will profoundly impact the lives of present young people and future generations, for instance with irreversible biodiversity loss and climate change. This raises questions of how young people and future generations are taken into account, or given voice, within environmental governance. In this context, this research sought to examine how young people and future generations are included or represented in environmental policy and planning in Aotearoa, including identification of the institutions and mechanisms for intergenerational environmental justice. To do this, it draws on documentary analysis of 40 key pieces of environmental legislation, including the Environment Act 1986, Resource Management Act 1991, Climate Change Response Act 2002, and Local Government Act 2002, as well as national policy statements and a sampling of case law. Document analysis was supplemented with six in-depth key informant interviews to explore the strengths, challenges, and possibilities of existing practices for intergenerational environmental justice in Aotearoa. This dissertation argues that the current system for environmental policy and planning in Aotearoa New Zealand is not sufficient to achieve intergenerational environmental justice. The research reveals an inconsistent and narrow framing of intergenerational environmental justice in key environmental legislation and policy and suggests that young people and future generations are not effectively engaged in decision-making. The analysis suggests: (1) the importance of clarifying key definitions and goals of intergenerational environmental justice and sustainable development; (2) establishing mechanisms for representation of future generations and strengthening legislation to demonstrably take them into account; and (3) explicitly recognising young people in environmental legislation, as well as improving practices to meaningfully engage with them in environmental decision-making. It also recognises the need for wider societal shifts to facilitate meaningful and enduring change.Item Open Access A holistic marine biosecurity risk framework that is inclusive of social, cultural, economic and ecological values(Elsevier Ltd., 2025-02) Campbell, ML; Hewitt, ChadEffectively managing non-indigenous marine species risks demands swift, transparent decisions amid limited data and in an environment where conflicting interest across environmental, economic, social, and cultural realms exists. Conventional risk assessment tools often fail to comprehensively evaluate these risks together, leading to stakeholder dissatisfaction, conflicts and poor biosecurity outcomes. To address this, we present a structured 7-step marine biosecurity risk framework. It systematically assesses incursion's ecological, economic, social and cultural impacts, encourages stakeholder engagement and promotes inclusive decision-making. Steps include defining contexts, setting objectives, estimating consequences, determining management options, evaluating trade-offs, implementing decisions, and communicating risks effectively. A simulation using Sabella spallanzanii illustrates its application. By integrating diverse perspectives and employing audience-centred communication plans, our framework facilitates informed and equitable decisions. It standardises data examination, aiding in addressing ecological, economic, social, and cultural integrity amidst non-indigenous marine species threats.Item Open Access Disastrous futures? Confronting the scale, urgency andcomplexity of our crises: Introduction to the special issue(Taylor & Francis, 2024-02-03) Matthewman, Steve; Goode, Luke; Cretney, RavenWhen then-Climate Change Commissioner James Renwick first saw footage of Auckland's Anniversary Weekend floods (2023), he mistook the images for Bangladesh. ‘“Oh it's Auckland?!” My mouth fell open. I just haven't seen those sorts of images in this country before’ he told a New Zealand Geographic journalist (quoted in Woulfe Citation2023). Worse soon followed. Cyclone Gabrielle hit parts of the country shortly afterwards. Gabrielle has been called ‘an unprecedented weather event’ (McAnulty quoted in McClure Citation2023), the country's ‘largest climate event to date’ (Asia Insurance Review Citation2023). Early indications are that it will be as expensive as the Canterbury Earthquake Sequence (Guinto Citation2023), which, at the time, ‘was the second costliest insurance event of 2010 and the third costliest earthquake in history’ (Bevere et al. Citation2011, p. 6). Arguably these events are but preludes to our disaster-laden future.Item Open Access Navigating adaptive futures: Analysing the scope of political possibilities for climate adaptation(Taylor & Francis Group, 2025) Cretney, Raven; White, I; Hanna, CThe growing scale and intensity of climate change poses a substantial challenge to the status quo of society and politics. Adapting to the risks associated with extreme weather events and changing climatic conditions will require the re-imagination of many aspects of politics and society. Therefore, climate change can be framed as a problem of imagination; one in which our relationship to the future is central to understanding how possibilities in the present are perceived. This research analyses public submissions made on New Zealand’s first draft National Adaptation Plan to understand how future climate adaptation is framed and imagined by different groups. In analysing submissions we identify and describe four thematic ‘adaptive futures’ that each argue for varied amounts of socio-political change from the status quo: data driven resilience; growth and opportunity; nature-society change; and flaxroots transformation. Underpinning these adaptive futures are emerging advocacy coalitions that seek to shape what is seen as possible, imaginatively, politically and materially. Our analysis also highlights how risks and opportunities are perceived by whom, and insights into attempts to delineate the boundaries of adaptive imagination and political possibility. Glossary of Māori terms: hapū: kinship group; iwi: extended kinship or tribal group; kaitiakitanga: intergenerational sustainability; kaupapa Māori: Māori approach, a philosophical doctrine, incorporating the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of Māori society; kawa: protocols; mana: authority, dignity, control, governance & power; mana whenua: territorial rights, power from the land, authority over land or territory, jurisdiction over land or territory; te ao Māori: the Māori worldview; tikanga: correct procedures, lore & practises Definitions sourced from Blackett et al. 2022 & Te Aka Māori DictionaryItem Open Access Towards a tika political science: Restoring balance, reflecting our context(Cambridge University Press, 2024) Azarmandi, M; Beausoleil, E; Bickerton, SH; Choi, S; Fadgen, T; Greener, B; Gregory, T; Hayward, J; Lovering, I; Nissen, Sylvia; Powles, A; Sardelić, J; Schick, K; Skilling, P; Tan, LThis article is a rejoinder to Annie Te One and Maria Bargh’s article published in The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education in 2023, “Towards a Fairer and More Tika Political Science and Politics: Are Political Science Programs Equipping Students Adequately for Aotearoa Realities?” (vol. 52, no. 2).Item Open Access Facilitating the ecosystem-based management transition in Aotearoa New Zealand(Taylor & Francis Group, 2025) Talbot-Jones, J; Macpherson, E; Jorgensen, E; Allison, A; Fisher, K; Hewitt, J; Paul, A; Rennie, Hamish; Zylla, AIn response to growing social and ecological pressures, ecosystem-based management (EBM) has been proffered as an alternative governance regime for marine and coastal systems in Aotearoa New Zealand. The challenge of how to engender a transition to EBM remains, however. This paper investigates the proposition that Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) can be a tool to drive the EBM transition by analysing the ocean and marine governance transition in Kaikōura over the past 20 years. The findings suggest that taking a top-down MSP approach to governance can crowd out some of the principles of EBM, but MSP can support the implementation of EBM principles if sufficient attention is given to developing institutions and processes that prioritise local decision-making and provide sufficient support for ongoing engagement and participation by local actors.Item Open Access Land use control under the Resource Management Act : Submission to Ministry for the Environment on the McShane "think piece"(Lincoln University. Environmental Management and Design Division., 1998-06) Hughey, Ken F. D.; Kinghorn, Nicola; Kissling, Chris; Montgomery, Roy; Rixecker, Stefanie S.; Swaffield, Simon R.In accordance with the invitation made to provide written feedback under the framework of questions drafted by the Ministry, please find enclosed our submissions dealing with Questions 1-4, 6-7, and 9- 12. Our response only covers a selection of the stipulated questions because we chose to construct a Divisional team approach, and this meant individual participants focused upon their interests and areas of expertise.Item Open Access Non-governmental organisation (NGO) participation in New Zealand's biodiversity strategy : Summary of focus group proceedings(Lincoln University. Environmental Management and Design Division., 1998-11) Harrison, AndrewThis report summarises the results of a cooperative research programme (focus group sessions) - between a research student from Lincoln University and the Biodiversity Strategy working group - which contributes toward developing the public participation process for New Zealand's Biodiversity Strategy. The research programme included a series of five focus group sessions that involved forty Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and Maori organisation representatives. This report attempts first and foremost to provide an impartial summary of the focus group proceedings - a summary that is free of evaluation or critical assessment and, rather, conveys the balance and range of views expressed across the five focus group sessions. For this reason the participants original comments are used wherever this is possible, indicated as italicised text within this report. Some comments are offered by the author and the Biodiversity Project Group (after the report overview) and critical assessment of the focus group results is provided in the author's Master of Science research which complements this summary and is held by the Department of Conservation and Lincoln University Libraries. In this section, background information to New Zealand's Biodiversity Strategy is provided, followed by a description of the focus group research (purpose, aims, objectives and methods) and structure of this report.Item Open Access Views on biosecurity and food security as we work toward reconciling an approach that addresses two global problems for a sustainable outcome(Elsevier B.V., 2024-09-27) Campbell, Marnie L; Hewitt, Chad; Le, Chi TUBiosecurity acts as a safeguard for food security, yet efforts to meet food security targets can exacerbate biosecurity pressures. Our study highlights the critical interrelationship between biosecurity and food security, which is often underrepresented. Decisions favoring either food security or biosecurity involve short- and long-term trade-offs. To work toward a balanced and sustainable approach, it is crucial to understand these links. We examined experts’ views on food security, biosecurity, and their interconnection through a 13-question survey with 162 international experts from 23 countries. Our findings reveal a consensus on the importance of food security but also show confusion in terminology, sociodemographic biases, and a lack of common ground between disciplines. This underscores the need for transdisciplinary approaches to address global food and biosecurity issues effectively, balancing both domains’ interests for sustainable outcomes.