I am a child of Tāmaki Makaurau, having been born and raised beside and on the Tīkapa Moana / Te Moananui ā Toi but also travelling widely with my research that is focused in the Pacific.

My research speciality sits within the fields of conservation ecology, animal behaviour and evolution.  Active study sites include offshore islands of Aotearoa (Manawatāwhi, Rangitāhua , The Noises, Mokohinau Islands, Te Hauturu o Toi Little Barrier Island) and international field collaborations in the tropical Pacific (Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea).I also specialise in public science communication of the fauna of New Zealand and am particularly focussed on raising public awareness of the decline of New Zealand’s marine and coastal taonga.

A range of national and international projects occupy my time including:

•       Studying the effects of ecosystem change on bird communities
•       Advocating for marine protection in the Hauraki Gulf as a means of achieving holistic land sea protection of this declining ecosystem.
•       Studying the biology of poorly known endangered species.
•       Researching the whakapapa / taxonomy of seabirds.
•       Supporting a range of students, and I would welcome those considering or conducting their own research to make contact to share ideas.

·        For a full list of Matt’s publications click here.