Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
Landcare Research was a New Zealand Crown Research Institute whose focus of research was the environment, biodiversity, and sustainability. The New Zealand government placed the institute into the newly-formed New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science on 1 July 2025.
History
Manaaki Whenua was originally part of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, but was established as an independent organisation when the Crown Research Institutes were created in 1992. As part of that process, it was semi-commercialised, and operated as a government-owned company rather than as a government department. The commercialisation led to greater emphasis on financial viability, and Manaaki Whenua is employed by various private groups to provide advice and information. It was chaired by Board Chair Colin Dawson.On 14 May 2025, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology Shane Reti integrated Manaaki Whenua into a new Public Research Organisation called the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science on 1 July 2025.
Locations
The main site was in Lincoln, near Christchurch. There were also other sites at Auckland on the Tamaki campus of Auckland University, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, and Dunedin.Collections
Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research held several collections of organisms that are of significant national importance to New Zealand. These holdings are now with the New Zealand Institute for Bioeconomy Science. Detailed information on all the specimens can be found though the Systematics Collections Data .International collection of microorganisms from plants
The International Collection of Microorganisms from Plants in Auckland holds live bacterial and fungal specimens that are preserved under liquid nitrogen or in freeze dried ampoules. Currently there are over 20,000 specimens in the collection.New Zealand Fungarium (PDD)
The New Zealand Fungarium Te Kohinga Hekaheka o Aotearoa, located in Auckland, is the major collection of New Zealand fungi. It contains 109,584 dried fungal specimens, including all the New Zealand fungal type species. It is one of the most extensive compilations on the national fungal biota of any country.New Zealand Arthropod Collection
The New Zealand Arthropod Collection or Ko te Aitanga Pepeke O Aotearoa in Māori. The NZAC has over 6 million specimens and has the most complete coverage of terrestrial invertebrates of all the collections held in New Zealand. In addition to its fundamental value to the science of taxonomy and systematics, the collection underpins quarantine and border control decisions ; and contributes to listings of threatened insect species. The NZAC is held at Landcare Research's Tamaki site.National Nematode Collection of New Zealand
The National Nematode Collection of New Zealand contains thousands of nematode specimens. It is contained within the New Zealand Arthropod Collection.Allan Herbarium
The Allan Herbarium Te Kohinga Tipu o Aotearoa at Lincoln, contains species from around the world but specialises in plants of the New Zealand region and the Pacific. It also has specialist collections of seed, fruit, wood, plant leaf cuticle, liquid-preserved specimens, and microscope slides. The oldest samples are the 91 duplicate specimens collected by Banks and Solander during Captain Cook's first voyage to New Zealand in 1769–1770.There are currently over 550,000 specimens in the Allan Herbarium with 5,000–8,000 being added annually. Two-thirds of the specimens are of indigenous plants with the remainder divided between naturalised, cultivated, and foreign specimens. It was named for Harry Allan, to acknowledge his contributions to New Zealand botany.
National New Zealand Flax Collection
Manaaki Whenua is kaitiaki of an ethnobotanical collection of traditional weaving varieties of harakeke donated by Rene Orchiston of Gisborne. The 50 harakeke were selected long ago from natural stands and cultivated by Māori weavers for their special leaf and fibre properties. There are varieties specially suited to making kete, whariki, piupiu and cloaks.Research
Science included research into the processes that maintain New Zealand's ecosystems, enable natural flora, fauna and fungi to flourish, and protect soil and catchments for a range of production and other purposes. The impacts of disruption to ecosystems; biosecurity risks from foreign weeds, pests and micro-organisms; and contamination to land, water and air caused by the production of natural, manufactured or waste compounds are investigated. Research is also undertaken to develop tools to help mitigate inefficient resource use and excess waste, and systems designed to improve resource use productivity, lifestyle and business viability. Research focuses on six key areas:- Conserving and restoring our biodiversity and the healthy resilience of natural ecosystems
- Reducing pest, disease and weed impacts in our natural and managed ecosystems
- Understanding, mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change
- Sustaining the long-term health of soils, waterways and landscapes for the continued viability of our rural environments
- Enhancing urban biodiversity and developing low-impact approaches for built environments
- Fostering environmentally sustainable and globally competitive business practices
BioBlitz
People
The following people were associated with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research:Governance positions
- Colin Dawson, Board Chair
- John Rodwell, Deputy Chair
Researchers
- Ross Beever
- David A Wardle
- Gregor W. Yeates
- Janet Wilmshurst