Future Events
Talks are held in the Zoology Benham Building, 346 Great King Street, behind the Zoology car park by the old Captain Cook Hotel. This is where we used to meet pre-covid. Please use the main entrance of the Benham Building to enter and go to the Benham Seminar Room, Room 215, located on the second floor. Please be prompt as we have to hold the door open. Zoom links for the talks are sent to members, join the BSO here.
Trips leave from the Department of Botany car park.
Field Trip on Saturday 21st of February 2026, 09:00 AM (1 week from now)
Contact: Jo Sinclair | 021 026 13580
Led by Kate Bonné - contact Jo Sinclair (021 026 13580)
The OPERA (formerly Penguin Place) is a 250ha retired sheep farm with sections of native bush at varying levels of regeneration. This trip will focus on a QEII-covenanted forested gully which is the oldest patch of bush on the property, only ever partially disturbed. We’ll then proceed to a small area of coastal turf, before finishing with a visit to the penguin rehabilitation centre. Meet at the botany carpark at 9am to carpool; return time 3pm. Bring lunch and water, and wear sturdy walking shoes.
The field trip is limited to 20 people. Please RSVP to Jo Sinclair (sowjo313@student.otago.ac.nz) by Wednesday, 18 February, if you plan to come. If you have RSVP'd but then can't make it, please contact Jo asap so that anyone on the waitlist has a chance to go.
Talk / Seminar on Wednesday 11th of March 2026, 05:20 PM (3 weeks from now)
Contact: John Barkla
Speaker: Bill Lee
The talk explores the origin, diversity and contribution of non-forest ecosystems below treeline to the richness and diversity of the New Zealand flora, especially in comparison to the well known Alpine and Forest biomes. Open ecosystems are dominated by light-demanding species and have played a major role in the diversification of genera, giving rise to many species with restricted distributions across diverse habitats. They also present distinctive conservation challenges in addition to predator and weed control but are foundational for the protection of our biological heritage.