CIBR SSIF End of FY2018 19.pdf

STRATEGIC SCIENCE INVESTMENT FUNDING (SSIF)-
FINAL PROJECT REPORT FOR FY2018
ESR is fully accountable for Strategic Science Investment Funding (SSIF).
Information in this report will be used to demonstrate the value of ESR SSIF and to quantify the benefit
from the investment. It will also inform future investment of SSIF.
Your Final Report is also used to populate the Board Science Report for FY2018/19. Please remember
if you don’t inform the Research Office we can’t inform MBIE or the Board, and your work will not
have the impact it deserves.
Please  complete  and  email,  in  Word  Doc  form,  to  [Withheld  under  section  9(2)(a)  of  the
OIA]@esr.cri.nz by Friday 12th July 2019.

Project Title: Centre for Integrated Biowaste Research (CIBR)

Project Leaders: Maria J. Gutierrez Gines (CIBR) & Louise Weaver (CIBR – Pathogen removal in
wastewater)
Duration: 2 of 3
Completion of Milestones
Please provide:
#Of Milestones in the project    [         29      ]
#Of Milestones COMPLETED      [       14        ]
#Of Milestones ON TRACK          [    9    ]
#Of Milestones BEHIND               [        5      ]

Our goal for SSIF investments for FY2018 was to increase ESR capabilities and impact across our four
key  areas  (forensics,  food,  health  and  water).  Please  provide  details  on  HOW  your  SSIF  project
contributed to:
1.  Developing our capability in areas of national importance
-  The social team furthers our collaborative exploration of new models of indigenous knowledge
building/science  education/community  engagement  for  sustainable  change,  allowing  the
knowledge of the team to be more widely known.
-  Successful bid to investigate the impacts of microplastics  in NZ by Olga Pantos  (ESR)  and Grant
Northcott (Northcott Research Ltd).
-  Antimicrobial  resistance  (AMR)  in  wastewater  and  looking  at  improved  treatment  options  to
reduce  the  impact  of  AMR  on  the  environment,  using  whole  metagenome  analysis.  This  led  to
further applications for funding to develop methods for detecting AMR genes in wastewater, which
were successful - “AMR in Wastewater” – [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA], and Louise
Weaver. ESR-SSIF funding.
-  Method  for  testing  biosolids  contaminants  on  key  ecological  species,  especially  transcriptomic
protocol for investigation of contaminants in biosolids against springtails.
-  The development of a joint Australia-Aotearoa (New Zealand) framework to manage pollutants in
Australasia. This knowledge is being put together to assess and manage the risks associated with
the presence of chemical contamination in our environment is being run by the ecotoxicology and
social and cultural research team members.
-  Developing  deeper  international  collaborations  with  China,  which  could  lead  to  new  research
projects.
-  Exploring research collaboration with Chile, about the reuse of biosolids into land, and Spain, about
resource recovery from wastewater, restoration and conservation of degraded soils with biowaste,
and reuse of biowaste into agriculture.
-  Establishment of five permanent field trials, as a scientific resource for the long-term investigation
of biowaste and NZ native vegetation.
-  Supporting future scientists by PhD and Masters studies in collaboration between CIBR teams and
with external entities.

2.  ESR’s impact for New Zealand
-  Give  effect  to  Vision  Matauranga  in  work  related  with  holistic  views  of  environment  and
sustainable behaviour, management of waste, collaborative governance of environmental issues.
-  Provide science based support  for reducing the disposal of biowaste,  and finding optimal reuse
options for the best cultural, social, economic and environmental outcomes.
-  Provide science and knowledge about risks of emerging contaminants, and antimicrobial resistance
in the NZ fragile environment and public health.
-  Recovering NZ native ecosystems in degraded environments, such as mine areas, biowaste disposal
fields, and intensive agricultural areas.
-  Increasing the visibility of NZ science and research into the international landscape.

List the external research or grant proposals submitted (include $ value) and any research funding
obtained  that  have  been  made  possible  as  a  result  of  SSIF  investment  in  the  project;  include
proposals awaiting funding decisions:
1.  “Impacts  of  microplastics  on  New  Zealand’s  bioheritage  systems,  environments  and
ecoservices” Olga Pantos (ESR) and Grant Northcott (Northcott Research Consultants). MBIE
endeavour fund - $12,536,205 over five years. Successful.
2.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA] Unsuccessful.
3.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA] Unsuccessful.
4.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA] Submitted.
5.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA] Submitted, at stage 2.
6.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA] Unsuccessful.
7.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(b)(ii) of the OIA] Unsuccessful.
8.  “AMR in Wastewater” – [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA], and Louise Weaver. ESR-
SSIF $199,673. Successful

List  the  1)  peer  reviewed  publications,  2)  conference  presentations  (oral)  3)  conference
presentations (poster), 3) external presentations other than conference developed from this SSIF
project:
Peer reviewed publications
1.  Gutiérrez-Ginés MJ, Madejón E, Lehto NJ, McLenaghen RD, Horswell J, Dickinson N, Robinson
BH. 2019. Response of a Pioneering Species (Leptospermum scoparium J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.)
to  Heterogeneity  in  a  Low-Fertility  Soil.  Frontiers  in  Plant  Science.  10:93.  doi:
10.3389/fpls.2019.00093
2.  Saleeb N, Robinson B, Cavanagh J, Mofasser AKM, Gooneratne R 2019. Biochemical changes
in sunflower plant ex-posed to silver nanoparticles/silver ions. SDRP Journal of Food Science
& Technology 4(2): 629-644. DOI: 10.25177/JFST.4.2.RA.469
3.  S. Seyedalikhani, J. Esperschuetz, N.M. Dickinson, R. Hofmann, J. Breitmeyer, J. Horswell, B.H.
Robinson.  2019.  Biowastes  to  augment  the  essential  oil  production  of  Leptospermum
scoparium and Kunzea robusta in low-fertility soil. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. Volume
137, 213-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.02.008.
4.  Saleeb N, Gooneratne R, Cavanagh JE, Bunt C, Mofasser-Hossain AKM, Gaw S, Robinson BH
(2019). The mobility of silver nanoparticles and silver ions in the soil-plant system. Journal of
Environmental Quality. In press. doi: 10.2134/jeq2019.03.0098.
5.  Jensen  H,  Orth  B,  Reiser  R,  Buerge  D,  Lehto  N,  Almond  P,  Gaw  S,  Thomson  T,  Lilburne  L,
Robinson BH (2019). Environmental parameters affecting the concentration of iodine in New
Zealand pasture. Journal of Environmental Quality. In press. doi: 10.2134/jeq2019.03.0128

6.  Benyas E, Owens J, Seyedalikhani S, Robinson BH (2018). Cadmium uptake by ryegrass and
ryegrass-clover mixtures under different liming rates. Journal of Environmental Quality 47(5),
1249-1257.
7.  Jensen H, Gaw S, Lehto NJ, Hassall L, Robinson BH (2018). The mobility and plant uptake of
gallium and indium, two emerging contaminants associated with electronic waste and other
sources. Chemosphere 209, 675-684.
8.  Charry MP, Northcott GL, Gaw S, Keesing V, Costello MJ, Tremblay LA. 2019. Development of
acute  and  chronic  bioassays  using  the  pelagic  copepod  Gladioferens  pectinatus  to  assess
estuarine health. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 174: 611–617.
9.  Guyon A, Smith KF, Charry MP, Champeau O, Tremblay LA.  Effects of chronic exposure  to
benzophenone  and  diclofenac  on  DNA  methylation  levels  and  reproductive  success  in  a
marine copepod. In press in Journal of Xenobiotics.
10. Charry  MP,  Wells  JBJ,  Keesing  V,  Smith  KF,  Stringer  TJ,  Tremblay  LA.  Quinquelaophonte
aurantius  sp.  nov.,  a  new  harpacticoid  species  (Copepoda:  Harpacticoida:  Laophontidae:
Quinquelaophonte)  from  New  Zealand.  New  Zealand  Journal  of  Zoology.  DOI:
10.1080/03014223.2018.1548496
11. Tremblay LA, Booth L, Cavanagh JE, Champeau O, Northcott GL, Cedergreen N. The effects of
the  mixtures  of  three  micro-contaminants  commonly  found  in  biosolids  on  earthworm
reproduction.  In  press  in  The  Australasian  Bulletin  of  Ecotoxicology  and  Environmental
Chemistry.
12. Feng, C-Q, Cheng, D-M, Feng, Y, W-N, Jia, Z-H, Weaver, L, Liu, Y-W, Li, Z-J. 2019. Screening and
degradation  characteristics  of  a  tylosin  degrading  bacterial  strain.  Journal  of  Integrative
Agriculture. In Press.
13. Feng, Y., Zhang, W.J., Liu, Y.W., Xue, J.M., Zhang, S.Q., Li, Z.J. 2018. A simple, sensitive, and
reliable  method  for  the  simultaneous  determination  of  multiple  antibiotics  in  vegetables
through SPE-HPLC-MS/MS. Molecules 23 (8), 1953.; doi:10.3390/molecules23081953
14. Cheng,  D.,  Feng,  Y.,  Liu,  Y.,  Li,  J.,  Xue,  J.M.,  Li,  Z.  2018.  Quantitative  models  for  predicting
adsorption  of  oxytetracycline,  ciprofloxacin  and  sulfamerazine  to  swine  manures  with
contrasting properties. Science of the Total Environment 634, 1148–1156.
15. Gallart, M.; Adair, K.L.; Love, J.; Meason, D.F.; Clinton, P.W.; Xue, J.M.; Turnbull, M.H. 2018.
Genotypic variation in Pinus radiata responses to nitrogen source are related to changes in
the
root
microbiome.
FEMS
Microbiology
Ecology,
94
(6),
fiy071,
https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiy071
16. Liu, Y, Feng, Y, Cheng, D, Xue, J.M., Wakelin, S A, Li, Z. 2018. Dynamics of bacterial composition
and  the  fate  of  antibiotic  resistance  genes  and  mobile  genetic  elements  during  the  co-
composting  with  gentamicin  fermentation  residue  and  lovastatin  fermentation  residue.
Bioresource Technology 261, 249-256. August 2018

17. Zhang, C., Xue, J.M, Cheng, D., Feng, Y., Liu, Y., Aly, H. M., & Li, Z. 2019. Uptake, translocation
and  distribution  of  three  veterinary  antibiotics  in  Zea  mays  L.  Environmental  Pollution.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.03.110
18. Weining Qi, Jian Long, Changqing Feng, Yao Feng, Dengmiao Chen, Yuanwang Liu, Jianming
Xue, Zhaojun Li  2019 Fe3+ enhanced degradation of oxytetracycline in water by Pseudomonas.
Water Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.058
19. Yang, L., He, L., Xue, J.M., Wu, L., Ma, Y., Li, H., Peng, P., Li, M., Zhang , Z. Highly efficient nickel
(II)  removal  by  sewage  sludge  biochar  supported  α-Fe2O3  and  α-FeOOH:  Sorption
Characteristics and Mechanisms. PLOS ONE (accepted).
20. Cheng, D., Feng, Y., Liu, Y., Xue, J.M., Li, Z. 2018. Dynamics of oxytetracycline, sulfamerazine,
and ciprofloxacin and related antibiotic resistance genes during swine manure composting.
Journal of Environmental Management. 29 Sep 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.09.074.
21. Angus  Macfarlane,  Richard  Manning,  Jamie  Ataria,  Sonja  Macfarlane,  Melissa  Derby,  Te
Hurinui  Clarke.  (2019).  Wetekia  kia  rere:  the  potential  for  place‑conscious  education
approaches  to  reassure  the  indigenization  of  science  education  in  New  Zealand  settings.
Cultural Studies of Science Education,  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11422-019-09923-0
22. Richard  T.  Yao,  E.R.  (Lisa)  Langer,  Alan  Leckie,  Louis  A.  Tremblay,  Household  preferences
when  purchasing  handwashing  liquid  soap:  a  choice  experiment  application.  Journal  of
Cleaner Production. Accepted: DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.07.002
Conference presentations (oral)
1.  Clemens, H., Weaver, L., Morgan, L. Virus removal through on-site septic tank disposal fields.
Presented by Hazel Clemens at Water NZ conference, Hamilton, September 19-21 2018.
2.  Garnett, A., Villanueva S., Adding clarity to the murky world of greywater re-use and risk to
human health. Co-presented by Amber Garnett (BRANZ) and Sein at  Water NZ conference,
Hamilton September 19-21st 2018.
3.  Louis  Tremblay,  Rick  Van  Dam,  Jacqui  Horswell.  2018.  Considerations  for  water  quality
guidelines  for emerging contaminants. A talk  presented at the 50th NZ Freshwater Science
Society Conference, 10-14 December, Nelson.
4.  Xue, J.M. and Kimberley, M. 2018 Long-term application of biosolids enhanced soil fertility
and carbon sequestration of radiata pine plantation on a marginal land. In the proceedings of
the 4th International Congress on Planted Forests in Beijing, China on 23-26 Oct 2018.
5.  Xue, J.M.; Kimberley, M.; Wang, M.H.; Gielen, G.; Tremblay, L.A.; Champeau, O.; C. Ross, C.;
Horswell,  J.  2018  Beneficial  use  of  biosolids  to  forestland:  What  are  the  environmental
impacts? In the proceedings of the New Zealand Soil Science Conference in Napier, on 3-6 Dec.
2018.
6.  Xue, J.M.; Kimberley, M. 2018. Repeated application of biosolids improved soil fertility, tree
growth  and  carbon  sequestration  of  radiata  pine  plantation  on  a  marginal  land.  In  the
proceedings of the New Zealand Soil Science Conference in Napier, on 3-6 Dec. 2018

7.  Gutierrez-Gines MJ, Simcock R, Xue J, Horswell J, Langer L, Madejón E, McLenaghen RD, Letho
N,  Dickinson  N,  Robinson  BH.  2019.  Biosolids  for  rehabilitation  of  NZ  degraded  land.  Oral
presentation.  Biosolids  National  Conference  2019.  Biosolids  in  the  Circular  Economy.  21-22
February 2019, Brisbane, Australia
8.  M.J.  Gutierrez-Gines,  C.  Sitz,  S.  Halford,  I.  Alderton,  J.  Horswell,  S.  Cass,  B.  Robinson,  G.
Northcott,  H.  Lowe.  2019.  Where  is  my  phosphorous?  –  30  years  of  treated  effluent  land
application.  Oral  presentation  in  New  Zealand  Land  Treatment  Collective  Conference.
Invercargill 3-5 April 2019
9.  Maria  J  Gutierrez  Gines,  S.  Halford,  A.  Meister,  I.  Alderton,  V.  Ambrose,  S.  Villanueva,  J.
Prosser, B. Robinson, J. Horswell. 2019. Mānuka Is Not Alone In Its Antimicrobial Potential.
Oral presentation in New Zealand Land Treatment Collective Conference. Invercargill 3-5 April
2019.
10. Grant  Northcott,  Louis  Tremblay,  Jacqui  Horswell  –AMR  the  New  Zealand  Perspective.
What’s In Our Water Symposium, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC),
29-31st October, 2018 in Canberra, Australia.
11. Grant  Northcott,  Louis  Tremblay,  Fred  Leusch-Identification  of  priority  emerging  organic
contaminants  in  wastewater”  What’s  In  Our  Water  Symposium,  Society  of  Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), 29-31st October, 2018 in Canberra, Australia.
12. Grant  Northcott,  Louis  Tremblay,  Jamie  Ataria,  Jacqui  Horswell,  Virginia  Baker,  Mike
Stewart, Fred Leusch, Graham Sevicke-Jones -Research program to manage emerging organic
contaminants in NZ”  What’s In Our Water Symposium, Society of Environmental Toxicology
and Chemistry (SETAC), 29-31st October, 2018 in Canberra, Australia.
13. Virginia Baker, Jamie Ataria, Jacqui Horswell, E.R. (Lisa) Langer, Alan Leckie, Joanna Goven,
Rangimarie Parata-Takurua, Louis Tremblay – What’s in our water, and what can we do about
it? Science at the interface of policy, community and sustainable change.  What’s In Our Water
Symposium,  Society  of  Environmental  Toxicology  and  Chemistry  (SETAC),  29-31st  October,
2018 in Canberra, Australia.
14. Virginia Baker, Jamie Ataria, Jacqui Horswell, E.R. (Lisa) Langer, Alan Leckie, Joanna Goven,
Rangimarie Parata-Takurua, Louis Tremblay (2018) Re-configuring relationships and practice
for sustainable change. 4S Society for Social Studies of Science conference: Transdisciplinary
theme, 29 Aug – 1 Sept. Sydney 2018.
15. V.E.  Baker,  J.  Ataria,  J.  Horswell,  E.R.  Langer,  A.  Leckie  (2018)  Schools  and  community
engagement  in  science:  Expanding  a  sustainable  focus.  New  Zealand  Association  for
Environmental Education Conference, 18-20 April 2018, Wellington.
16. Gutierrez-Gines MJ, Clarke D, Baker V, Alderton I, Simcock R, Tupuhi G, Robinson BH, Taylor
M,  Efford  J,  Nikau  T,  Biddle  TR,  Moana  T,  Horswell  J.  2019.  Water  Quality,  Ecosystem
Restoration and Traditional Knowledge. Oral Presentation. Conference on Land Use and Water
Quality. Agriculture and Environment. 3 – 6 June 2019. Aarhus, Denmark. Volume of Abstracts,
pp 24-25.
17. Hernández AJ, Ceballos RM, Tena E, Frías M, Gutiérrez-Ginés MJ. 2019. Policies for the good
treatment between people,  between the two genders, and with the environment in island

territories.  26th  APDR  Congress.  Evidence-based  territorial  policymaking.  4  –  5  July  2019,
University of Aveiro, Portugal.
18. Jianming Xue 2019. Microplastics in soil-plant system and their ecological and environmental
impacts.  An invited plenary talk presented at the 2nd National Conference on Environmental
Pollution and Control of Microplastics. Nanjing, China 4-6 June, 2019.
19. Alan Leckie, Lisa Langer, 2018. Impacts of a natural disaster on a growing town’s projected
waste planning – biosolids and wastewater system. Oral presentation by Alan Leckie at the
IUFRO Extension and Knowledge Exchange Working Party 09.01.03 Conference, Christchurch,
N.Z. 9-14 September 2018
20. Brett  Robinson  (2019)  Keynote  speaker  at  the  International  Conference  on  Environmental
Science and Resource Management, Tangail, Bangladesh, 8 February.
21. Louis Tremblay, Olivier Champeau, Grant Northcott, Kevin Simon. 2019. Assessing the risk of
microplastics in New Zealand. An invited keynote talk presented at the 2nd Conference on
National Environmental Pollution and control of microplastic. Nanjing, China 4-6 June.
22. Louis Tremblay. 2019. Managing pollutants in New Zealand. An invited talk presented at the
Institute  of  Agricultural  Resources  and  Regional  Planning  Center  of  Soils  and  Fertilizers
Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China, 9 June.
Conference presentations (poster)
1.  Villanueva,  Prosser,  Gutierrez-Gines,  Tinholt,  Lowe,  Horswell.  2019.  Biosolids  as  growth
medium for plants in nurseries. Poster in New Zealand Land Treatment Collective Conference.
Invercargill 3-5 April 2019.
2.  Villanueva,  Prosser,  Gutierrez-Gines,  Tinholt,  Lowe,  Horswell.  2019.  Biosolids  as  growth
medium for plants in nurseries. Poster in Biosolids National Conference 2019. Biosolids in the
Circular Economy. 21-22 February 2019, Brisbane, Australia
External Presentations
1.  Virginia Baker, Mat Walton, Jamie Ataria, Jacqui Horswell, E.R. (Lisa) Langer, Alan Leckie,
Joanna Goven, Louis Tremblay. (2018) Getting beyond behaviour change: Combined systems
thinking  and  social  science  approaches  for  complex  environmental  problems.  Invited
workshop, hosted by BRANZ at the Royal Society NZ, 6 August 2018, Wellington.
2.  V. E Baker, J. Ataria, L. Tremblay, G. Northcott, G. Sevicke-Jones, O. Pantos.  Managing the
risk of Emerging Organic Contaminants (EOCs) in Aotearoa New Zealand’s marine ecosystems
– Transdisciplinary science approaches for complex environmental problems.  Special session
workshop: NZ Marine Sciences Society Conference, 3-5 July 2018, Napier.
3.  Jianming Xue 2019. Beneficial use of biosolids to forestland: What are the environmental and
ecological impacts? An invited presentation at the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy
of Sciences in Nanjing, China on 4 June 2019.
4.   Jianming Xue 2019. Ecosystem responses to long-term application of biosolids to a pine forest
in New Zealand. An invited a keynote speaker for the Forest Ecosystem Workshop at Beijing
Forestry University on 11-14 June 2019.

5.  Gutierrez-Gines MJ. 2019. Research of Organic Waste in NZ. Seminar at CIEMAT, Spain. 20th
may 2019.
6.  Gutierrez-Gines  MJ.  2019.  CIBR,  10  years  of  biowaste  research  in  NZ.  Seminar  at  EIADES,
Spain. 17th May 2019.
7.  Gutierrez-Gines  MJ.  2019.  The  Centre  for  Integrated  Biowaste  Research  in  NZ.  Seminar  at
IRNAS, CSIC, Spain. 22nd may 2019.
8.  Gutierrez Gines, MJ. 2019. Plant-Soil interactions and remediation of degraded land. Lecture
for university students in EcoQuest Education Foundation, Kaiaua, 4th march 2019.
9.  Robinson BH. 2019 Trace element fluxes in the soil-plant system. Lecture at North Western
Agriculture and Forestry University, Yangling, China. 26th June, 2019.

Executive summary – Three to four sentences giving an overview of your project and the results
obtained. This will be used for the Board Report so keep in mind that not everyone is an expert in
your field.
The Centre of Integrated Biowaste Research (CIBR) is a virtual research centre with transdisciplinary
expertise,  led  by  ESR,  and  composed  of  Maanaki-Whenua/Landcare  Research,  Scion,  Cawthron
Institute,  University  of  Canterbury,  Northcott  Research  Consultants,  Kukupa  Research,  Massey
University,  NIWA,  and  Lowe  Environmental  Impact.  The  goal  of  CIBR  is  to  investigate  unique  and
holistic solutions for the sustainable management of biowastes (organic waste), by delivering value-
added science that improves human well-being and protects the environment.
In the past year (July 2018 - June 2019), CIBR has demonstrated its success by:
-  delivering  internationally  recognized  research,  by  publishing  22  papers  in  international  peer
reviewed scientific journals, giving 24 presentations in national and international conferences, and
being invited to give 8 presentations, publications and outreach activities, published two newsletters,
and refreshed the content in the webpage.
- attracting $12,736,000 in research funds for increasing our capability on microplastics research and
developing methods for detecting AMR genes in wastewater.
- keeping working collaborations with 18 regional and district councils, and six iwi groups.
- having 13 successful students: four master students and seven PhD students, and two interns, and
other 13 ongoing students.
-  investigated  Māori  worldviews  of  kaitiakitanga/guardianship,  and  values  of  whānau  (family),
whakapapa  (genealogy),  and  tikanga  (tradition)  in  designing  opportunities  to  reuse  and  minimise
biowastes.
- stablishing five permanent field trials which will be an important scientific resource for the team for
investigating long-term effects of biowaste and restoration of NZ native species.
- being acknowledged for our expertise by participating in the revision of the national guidelines for
the land application of organic waste.

- extending our capabilities by increasing longstanding collaborations with research institutes in China,
Australia, UK, Spain, Chile, and Bangladesh.

Project report –Include brief background, what you did, what you found, conclusions (max 2 pages).
This is the opportunity to tell a success story that ESR can use in Impact Case Studies, Briefing and
other communications
The CIBR group has continued to develop the  necessary  work for investigating unique  and holistic
solutions for the sustainable management of biowastes (organic waste), which improves human well-
being  and  protects  the  environment.  In  particular,  CIBR’s  work  has  been  focused  on  three  main
streams:  i)  deliver  cutting-edge  science  regarding  the  beneficial  reuse  of  biowaste,  ii)  to  inform
environmental and public health decision making in New Zealand,  iii) increase our capabilities  and
grow  our  science  by  increasing  our  international  and  national  collaborations,  and  attracting  new
research, and bringing new students.
Delivering valuable science
The group has continued its successful research with further developments in these areas , particularly
developing  methods  for  analysing  emerging  contaminants  and  their  ecotoxicity,  investigating
beneficial reuse of biosolids, greywater, the long-term Rabbit Island Field trial, mānuka and native
plants for reducing the impacts of biowaste land application, and a robust social and cultural program.
These projects span multiple research streams within CIBR (Soil Science, Microbiology, Ecotoxicology,
Social and Cultural). Several research projects are emerging that have  strong future potential with
significant collaborative opportunities and high likelihood of bringing in more revenue for the group.
We  have  successfully  collected  and  transcribed  information  regarding  Māori  worldviews  of
sustainability and kaitiakitanga, and how to translate those values into day to day sustainability and
education  practices.  The  school  Te  Pā  in  Ōtautahi  (Christchurch)  has  become  a  living  example  of
holistic  sustainable  behaviour.  We  are  developing  ecotoxicity  tests  to  evaluate  the  potential
environmental  risks  of  emerging  organic  contaminants  in  NZ  native  species,  using  cutting  edge
transcriptomic techniques. Rabbit Island’s experiment is still producing exciting results about the long
term  benefits  and  potential  risks  of  biowaste  application  into  forestry,  regarding  organic
contaminants, trace elements, and carbon sequestration in soil and biomass. NZ native vegetation is
gaining  great  attention  due  to their  potential  antimicrobial  properties,  economic  revenue,  and  for
restoration  of  NZ’s  fragile  biodiversity  using  biowaste.  Regarding  this,  we  have  conducted  three
greenhouse  experiments,  and  one  field  experiment,  with  one  lysimeter  experiment  and  one  field
experiment still ongoing. We have now five field trials established around the country evaluating the
role of NZ vegetation for treating biowaste and farm run-off: Waikare, Wairarapa, Levin, Duvauchelle,
and  Stockton  Mine.  We  are  running  laboratory  experiments  to  investigate  the  enzyme  activity  in
wastewater  to  reduce  emerging  organic  contaminants.  We  are  also  starting  to  investigate  the
presence of AMR in wastewater and potential reduction by enzymes.
We  have  communicated  the  results  in  22  peer-reviewed  papers  -  and  two  more  are  planned  for
journal  submission  -  24  conference  proceedings  in  national  and  international  conferences  and

workshops, and have been invited to give lectures and science talks. We shared our knowledge with
general public and stakeholders via two CIBR newsletters and the CIBR webpage. We have appeared
in the media in numerous occasions. We are working closely with 18 regional and district councils,
and six iwi groups.
Increase our capabilities and grow our science
The CIBR team realises the importance of growing our research and capabilities to be able to deal with
imminent challenges in NZ. We have been growing our capabilities in Vision Matauranga by exploring
and  understanding  new  models  of  indigenous  knowledge  for  sustainable  change,  allowing  the
knowledge of the team to be more widely known. We are developing new transcriptomic methods
for  assessing  ecological  impacts  of  contaminants  in  NZ  native  species,  methods  for  sampling  and
analysing  groundwater  samples  for  residual  contaminants,  and  genomic  methods  for  detecting
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wastewater.
We have submitted four research applications – MBIE programs, Smart Ideas, Marsden, SSIF – which
will  grow  our  research  with  extra  $12,700,000,  for  growing  our  capabilities  and  science  in
microplastics and detection of antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater.
We are extending our capabilities by increasing longstanding collaborations with research institutes
in China, Australia, UK, Spain, Chile, and Bangladesh and new Māori organisations.
We are strongly investing in future scientists by supporting PhD, master and intern students, who
have been working and enhancing collaboration between CIBR teams and external institutions:
Successful students:
1.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
2.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
3.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
4.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
5.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
6.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
7.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
8.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
9.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
10. [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
11. [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
12. [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
13. [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
Current students
1.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
2.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
3.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
4.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]

5.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
6.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
7.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
8.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
9.  [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
10. [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
11. [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
12. [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]
13. [Withheld under section 9(2)(a) of the OIA]