NZPPS Conference 2008

The 2008 conference is planned for Paihia on 11-14 August 2008. Cost: $220.

The venue is the Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands, situated on the beach front, adjacent to the Waitangi National Trust and a scenic golf course.

Local attractions include:

bush and scenic walks
game and sports fishing
island cruises

Conference programme

A draft programme is now available, and includes the following sessions:

From Biosecurity to Biocontrol
Disease Control in Horticultural Crops
Weeds in Grasslands
Agrichemicals
Insects in Forestry & Horticulture
Pasture Ecosystems
Arable & Vegetable Crops
Management of Grapevine Diseases
Biocontrol of Insect Pests
Weeds in Natural Ecosystems

Pre-conference symposium

The Finding New Pests: Surveillance for Biosecurity symposium has been organised by the New Zealand Plant Protection Society, as a lead-in to their three day annual conference to be held at the same venue. Cost: $120.

Growing international trade, greater mobility and the effects of climate change make New Zealand's borders increasingly vulnerable to new pests and diseases, many of which could destroy our economy and our natural environment. The biosecurity system works at the border and after the border, and as you will hear at the symposium, also covers potential biosecurity risks managed offshore before potential pests reach our border.

Researchers and practitioners from Crown Research Institutes, the Department of Conservation, Regional Councils and Biosecurity New Zealand will present papers and two speakers from Weedspotters in Australia will also present on their work in identifying and controlling weeds.

Dr John Hellström, Chair, Biosecurity Council will open the Symposium.

A draft programme is now available. Further information may be available from the symposium organisers Karyn Froud and Ian Popay.

Presenters

Those planning to contribute to the conference or symposium should read the guide for authors. Note that the deadline for submission of paper abstracts closed on 15 February 2008.

Each conference presentation will be published as a full, peer-reviewed scientific paper in New Zealand Plant Protection volume 61. NZPPS members will receive a copy of this prior to the 2008 conference.

Session chairs should read the guide for chairing conference sessions.

Registration

Please use the registration form to register for the New Zealand Plant Protection Society Conference and/or Symposium.

Accommodation

Rooms are available at the venue, Copthorne Hotel and Resort Bay of Islands, for the special price of $139 per room per night for single, twin or double occupancy (includes GST and breakfasts). To take advantage of this, please ensure that you mention the NZPPS conference when booking.

A range of other accommodation is available in Paihia and nearby Kerikeri, including back-packer hostels, bed & breakfasts, motels, and hotels. More information can be found at www.paihia.co.nz.

How to get to Paihia

By air

There are two airports nearby, Whangarei, 1 hour drive from Paihia with an average of 9 flights per day from Auckland, and Kerikeri, 20 minutes from Paihia with 4 flights per day.

For those members flying into Kerikeri airport, it is approximately a 20 min bus or taxi ride to the Copthorne. Kerikeri Shuttles will operate an airport shuttle to meet your flight and transfer you to the Copthorne if you pre-book with them. To arrange this at a guaranteed best rate, please email your flight arrival details to Kerikeri Taxis and quote the "NZPPS conference", or book online.

By road - self drive

Travel the Twin Coast Discovery Highway, a world class touring route which leaves and returns from Auckland. Pick up your free copy of the Twin Coast Discovery Highway routeplanner from any information centre in New Zealand. Paihia is just three interesting hours drive from Auckland.