Colin Meurk
New Zealand ecologist (born 1947)
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Colin Meurk ONZM (born 1947) is a New Zealand ecologist.
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1947 (age 78–79)
Colin Meurk | |
|---|---|
Meurk in 2021 | |
| Born | Colin Douglas Meurk 1947 (age 78–79) |
| Known for | Conservation advocacy and ecological restoration in Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Canterbury, University of Otago |
| Thesis | Alpine phytoecology of the rainshadow mountains of Otago and Southland, New Zealand (1982) |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Ecology |
| Sub-discipline | New Zealand native, landscape ecology and urban ecology |
| Institutions | Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research |
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.[1]
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.[2]
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[2] when it was being considered as a location for a housing development in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[3][4] He is involved with ecological restoration projects there and across Christchurch.[3] He has advocated for the creation of a predator free eco-sanctuary within the residential red zone, similar to the Zealandia project in Wellington.[5] Meurk was instrumental in creating the Christchurch 360 Trail; a walking track that circles Christchurch to demonstrate the wide ecological diversity of the area.[6][2]
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.[2]
In 2022 he ran for a seat on the Christchurch City Council in the Fendalton ward, but was not successful.[7]