Date: Tuesday, 3 March 2026
Time: 6pm (doors open at 5.30 pm)
Speaker: Dr Alessandra Vallim
Venue: National Aquarium, Napier
Admission: Gold coin donation

As part of Seaweek 2026, the annual celebration of our oceans, the Hawke’s Bay Branch of the Royal Society Te Apārangi warmly invites you to a special Seaweek Talk at the National Aquarium of New Zealand.

Join Alessandra Vallim, SeaKeepers South Pacific Program Manager and PhD researcher, as she shares her research on how large marine animals — including rays, sharks, and whales — reshape seafloor sediments and drive key ocean processes. Her work highlights these species as ecosystem engineers and connects science with community engagement through citizen science initiatives.

Date: Tuesday, 17 February 2026
Time: 5.30 pm (doors open at 5.00 pm)
Speaker: Dr Rob Langridge, Earth Sciences NZ
Venue: Art Deco Trust, 5 Clive Square East, Napier
Capacity: 70 – first come first served
Admission: Gold coin donation

As we commemorate the 1931 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, this talk turns our attention to another major — and much less well-known — event in our region’s past. The February 23rd, 1863 Waipukurau Earthquake was described by some who experienced both events as being just as violent and damaging as 1931.

Felt across much of Aotearoa New Zealand, the 1863 earthquake caused widespread damage in Napier and central Hawke’s Bay, and may have been as large as magnitude 7.5. Despite this, it remains poorly documented. This lecture presents new research reconstructing its felt intensity across New Zealand, examining impacts on buildings and the natural landscape — including the diversion of the Waipawa River — and recent efforts to identify the source faults east of Waipukurau–Pukehou.

Rob Langridge is an Earthquake Geologist with Earth Sciences NZ, specialising in active faulting, surface rupture, and the earthquake history of Aotearoa New Zealand. His work focuses on understanding past large earthquakes to better inform present-day seismic risk.

Join us for a talk on viticulture research by Dr Chandré Honeth, preceded and followed by drinks, nibbles, mixing and mingling; a perfect way to celebrate the end of the year.

Dr Chandré Honeth: Viticulture and Wine Science Lecturer, EIT

Date: Tuesday, 2 December

Time: 5.30pm, lecture starting at about 6.15pm

Venue: Women’s Rest, 5 Clive Square East, Napier

Ticket required: please register on Eventfinda

Characterising Albariño as a Potential Cool-Climate White Variety in New Zealand

Albariño — known for its drought and disease tolerance — shows strong promise for grape-growing regions facing increasing temperatures and unpredictable rainfall. Its flavour and aroma profile can vary significantly depending on vine exposure to sunlight or shade.

This research evaluated Albariño’s performance under New Zealand conditions, with a focus on how leaf-removal practices influenced grape and wine composition. The findings contribute to a growing body of knowledge that will assist growers who may consider Albariño cultivation in the future.

Dr Chandré Honeth received her PhD from the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), where she investigated the influence of UVB radiation on berry metabolites in Sauvignon Blanc. She is currently a lecturer and researcher in Viticulture at Eastern Institute of Technology.

Speaker: Dr Anne Hiha, Tutor, School of Education, Eastern Institute of Technology
Date: Thursday 6 November 2025
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, EIT Taradale, Napier
Entry: Gold coin donation

Research has changed for Māori. They have gone from being the researched of 19th century, which spawned a visceral mistrust of research and researchers well into the 20th century, to active engagement with research in the 21st century. I explore my transformation from 20th century researcher to 21st century Māori researcher.

Dr Anne Hiha is an Adjunct Lecturer at Te Aho a Māui, Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT). She teaches on the Master of Professional Practice, including the capstone research paper, and guest lectures in the Postgraduate Certificate of Professional Supervision. Anne also teaches research on the Bachelor of Arts (Māori) programme.

She mentors MAI ki Te Matau-a-Māui participants, part of Te Kupenga o MAI, an initiative of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga. This national network supports Māori and Indigenous postgraduate researchers, providing mentoring, connection, and opportunities for academic and professional growth.

Speaker: Associate Professor Samantha Holdsworth, Associate Professor at University of Auckland and Research Director of the Mātai Medical Research Institute, Tairāwhiti-Gisborne
Date: Thursday 9 October 2025
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, EIT Taradale, Napier
Entry: Gold coin donation

How can advanced MRI help us better understand the brain and tackle some of our biggest health challenges? In this talk, Associate Professor Samantha Holdsworth shows how cutting-edge MRI is reshaping our understanding of the brain – from concussion to better detection of multiple sclerosis, from methamphetamine-related recovery to non-invasive measures of brain pressure. She’ll also share how community-embedded science in Tairāwhiti–Gisborne is inspiring young people, building research capability, and creating opportunities for New Zealand.

Join us for an evening that connects science, technology, and people – and highlights Aotearoa’s leadership in global imaging research.

Associate Professor Samantha Holdsworth is a world-leading MRI physicist at the University of Auckland and Research Director of the Mātai Medical Research Institute in Gisborne. After completing her physics degree at the University of Canterbury, a PhD in Queensland, and a fellowship at Stanford, she returned home to pioneer world-first MRI research in Aotearoa. At Mātai, she leads a multidisciplinary team working with iwi, schools, scientists, and clinicians to advance health, education, and innovation in the regions. Samantha is passionate about ensuring that cutting-edge science delivers benefits both to communities in Aotearoa and to the wider world.

Speaker: Dr. Peter Heenan, Principal Scientist at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
Date: Tuesday, 23 September 2025
Time: 6:00pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, EIT Taradale, Napier
Free entry – reservation required to secure your seat

Royal Society Te Apārangi, together with the Hawke’s Bay Branch, is delighted to present a talk by Dr Peter Heenan, winner of the 2024 Leonard Cockayne Lecture Award, which commemorates the life and work of Leonard Cockayne, New Zealand’s greatest botanist.

In his decades-long career, Peter has explored and researched New Zealand flora, especially the alpine plants of New Zealand, studying how our native plants have evolved, spread, and adapted to their dramatic mountain landscapes. But recently, his journey has taken a tropical turn – to the small Pacific island of Niue.

In this presentation, Peter will share what he’s discovered so far about Niue’s plants and fungi: how many species there are, what kinds of forests grow there, which plants are unique to the island, and which ones are invasive. He’ll also look at how climate, culture, and conservation all come together to shape the island’s living landscape.

Peter will reflect on how the deep knowledge we’ve built in New Zealand could help support new research in Niue – like protecting rare species, tracking invasive weeds and insects, and understanding the crops and plants important to local people. In Niue, plants and people are closely connected, and both traditional knowledge and modern science are essential for future success.

With fresh insights from visits to other Pacific Islands, Peter will show how Niue – though small – is a powerful example of the challenges and wonders of tropical botany in the Pacific today.

Speaker: Professor John Townend, Victoria University of Wellington
Date: Thursday 4 September 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, EIT Taradale, Napier
Admission: Gold Coin Donation

The Hawke’s Bay Branch is going to host this year’s Geoscience NZ 2025 Hochstetter Lecture, featuring renowned geophysicist Professor John Townend.

The Alpine Fault is one of the world’s most studied earthquake-generating faults, with decades of paleoseismological research revealing a remarkably regular earthquake cycle — typically less than 300 years between major events. Yet, the last major rupture occurred in 1717 CE, meaning the next is statistically overdue.

Professor of Geophysics John Townend will explore the evolving understanding of the Alpine Fault — from its geological past to its seismic potential today. Drawing on landmark research projects like the Deep Fault Drilling Project (DFDP) and the Southern Alps Long Skinny Array (SALSA), as well as cutting-edge techniques including fibre-optic sensing and AI, he will explain what lies beneath the surface and what might lie ahead.

With an estimated 75% chance of a magnitude 7+ earthquake occurring in the next 50 years, this is a timely and vital conversation for all New Zealanders.

Date: Tuesday, 12 August 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre 1, EIT Taradale, Napier
Free entry – booking essential

Reserve your seat now!

Royal Society Te Apārangi and the Hawke’s Bay Branch are delighted to present the 2024 Rutherford Medal winner in a special public talk. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of New Zealand’s leading researchers – this promises to be a fascinating and thought-provoking evening.

Tales of the Unexpected: Surprising Discoveries that Changed Clinical Practice
Join us for an engaging session where Prof. Beasley shares unexpected findings from ten influential research programmes that:

• Challenged long-standing medical assumptions
• Advanced global clinical understanding
• Directly impacted patient care

Topics include:

• Should fever be treated?
• Is sitting for long periods a health risk?
• Are party pills safe for drivers?
• Does cannabis smoking cause lung cancer?
• What really caused the NZ asthma death epidemic?
• And more…

Date: Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Time: 5:30pm (prior to public lecture)

Location: Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier

We invite all members to attend our Annual General Meeting, which will be held just before our July public lecture.

A key item on the agenda will be the review and approval of our updated Constitution, in line with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022. This is a significant step in maintaining our legal and charitable status, and we need your voice in shaping the way our branch moves forward.

Your feedback and participation are essential.
Please take the time to review the proposed changes—details will be shared with members ahead of the meeting.

Let’s keep our branch strong, compliant, and future-ready.
We look forward to seeing you there!