Dr. Tagried Kurwie

Born in Iraq, Tagried gained her PhD in the nutrition of Carp and Rainbow Trout from Aston University in Birmingham, England in 1986. After working with a number of fish species on farms in Iraq, Tagried and her family migrated to New Zealand in 1997. She is currently Chief Scientific Officer at Mahurangi Technical Institute's aquaculture research facility in Warkworth and is responsible for the research undertaken on the breeding of New Zealand Shortfinned Eels.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

* Fish nutrition

* Fish breeding (wide range of species)

* Fish sterilization technology

* Aquaculture consultancy

Dr. John Walsby

John is the biology tutor at Mahurangi Technical Institute in the Certificate in Aquatic Studies course, a position that is part time. In addition, John leads eco tours within New Zealand, acts as a consultant on inshore marine ecosystems to government bodies such as the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Fisheries, and regional councils. These services include shellfish population monitoring, water sampling and the design and delivery of shoreline monitoring programs.

John also regularly writes and illustrates books and magazines (NZ Geographic in particular) and was for many years the regular "Nature Watch" correspondent in the NZ Herald. He also designs and writes educational material in the field of biology and writes and illustrates pamphlets, informational notice boards and other informational material for environmental agencies. From 1970 to 1985 John was a lecturer and research fellow at the University of Auckland and he holds a BSc (Hons.) and a PhD in marine biology from London University.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

* Training and education

* Sign and leaflet design

* Environmental Impact Reports

* Inshore marine biology

* Shellfish biology

David Cooper

Currently Special Projects manager at Mahurangi Technical Institute, David has spent a lifetime in the ornamental fish industry. This has included owning two aquarium stores, serving as an aquatic and training manager for another chain of aquarium and water garden stores, owning a water plant nursery (aquarium plants and water garden plants), and owning an aquarium and water garden installation and maintenance company. He is also a consultant to the ornamental fish industry throughout New Zealand (both retail and wholesale businesses), and is a prolific author of articles on "fishy" topics.

David was instrumental in the conception and production of the Certificate in Companion Animal Services, New Zealand's first qualification for the retail pet industry, currently offered through the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology in association with Mahurangi Technical Institute. David wrote the aquatic and advanced aquatic components of this qualification and serves part time as aquatics tutor on that course (currently over 300 students).

David holds qualifications in Adult Teaching and Retail Management. He is also responsible for sales and marketing of this aquatic consultancy service and is likely to be the first port of call for new clients.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

* Aquarium store design and construction

* Aquarium store staff training

* Ornamental fish industry consultant

* Fish breeding (ornamentals and NZ Native Freshwater fish)

* Aquarium and Water Garden design and troubleshooting (Planted Aquaria and Reef Aquaria are specialities)

Quentin O’Brien

Quentin is a junior Aquatic Scientist at Mahurangi Technical Institute, specialising in Native New Zealand Fish. He is electric fishing certified, and is skilled at biodiversity sampling. Quentin has worked on a number of projects including: biodiversity report on streams for aquaculture applications; completed biodiversity surveys under contract for New Zealand Railways; removal of restricted species from waterways.

Particular experience in aquatic sciences includes:

* Species identification

* Disease diagnosis and treatment

* Freshwater biological sampling

* Water quality monitoring

* Captive management of both freshwater and marine populations

* Fish transportation

* Industry consultation.

Paul Decker

Director and founder of Mahurangi Technical Institute, Paul has a lifetime of experience in the twin fields of aquaculture and education. He is also owner of Decker Consultants Ltd., environmental consultants specialising in aquatic ecosystems and fish transfers.

Raised on a fish farm in Queensland, Paul designed and built New Zealand's largest freshwater fish farm in the 1980s which was originally designed for Marron Crayfish (Cherax tenuimanus) and which currently raises Grass Carp and Silver Carp for aquatic weed control and for table fish. He has also owned and operated a number of oyster farms in New Zealand and currently has a hands-on role in the breeding of several species of fish at Mahurangi Technical Institute's premises in Warkworth.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

* Fish farm design and construction (recirculation and pond systems)

* Fish breeding specialities: Grass Carp, Silver Carp, Perch, and Grey Mullet

* Aquaculture consultancy

* Environmental Impact Reports

* Electric Fishing

* Research: New Zealand Short Finned Eels