NIWA’s Marine Ecology team relies on Sarah Hailes to stay afloat.
Moving from a focus on insects at SCION to marine macroinvertebrates at NIWA, Sarah has developed specialist skills in the collection and analysis of seabed samples as well as practical ones in boat mastery and maintenance, marine radio operation and first aid. The quality data produced by Sarah and her team has contributed to numerous publications and projects.
Sarah has a strong focus on safety and efficiency, evidenced by novel approaches to the defined time windows involved in marine research. She trialed the use of a helicopter to manage the ‘tyranny of distance’ for a monitoring programme in the expansive Kaipara Harbour and recently championed the purchase of a hovercraft to avoid researchers getting stuck in the mud while working on intertidal flats. Sarah recruits, trains and manages a technical crew of eight and coordinates fieldwork activities for a 15-strong Marine Ecology team. She actively supports her team members’ career aspirations and plays a major role in organising NIWA’s social club activities.
Sarah Hailes
NIWA
Laboratory Technician Award
NIWA’s Marine Ecology team relies on Sarah Hailes to stay afloat.
Moving from a focus on insects at SCION to marine macroinvertebrates at NIWA, Sarah has developed specialist skills in the collection and analysis of seabed samples as well as practical ones in boat mastery and maintenance, marine radio operation and first aid. The quality data produced by Sarah and her team has contributed to numerous publications and projects.
Sarah has a strong focus on safety and efficiency, evidenced by novel approaches to the defined time windows involved in marine research. She trialed the use of a helicopter to manage the ‘tyranny of distance’ for a monitoring programme in the expansive Kaipara Harbour and recently championed the purchase of a hovercraft to avoid researchers getting stuck in the mud while working on intertidal flats. Sarah recruits, trains and manages a technical crew of eight and coordinates fieldwork activities for a 15-strong Marine Ecology team. She actively supports her team members’ career aspirations and plays a major role in organising NIWA’s social club activities.