PSP Tohu Methodology – Our Signature Project

Using Local Mātauranga and Science to try and predict and prevent PSP outbreaks

TAKT is undertaking its own monitoring programme to see if we can identify taiao pre-cursors to an outbreak of PSP. We intend to collect samples from a number of water sources which discharge into the Little Waihi estuary using our learnings from the MFE Mana o te Wai programme. Little Waihi has been the source of PSP-contaminated pipis which have caused whānau to be hospitalised. We aim to monitor once a month. The samples we collect will be analysed by us where we can, and data recorded, but Cawthron Institute will be doing the science and analysing the resulting data.

It is taking us a while to refine our methodology, and we have had a number of "dummy runs" under the expert guidance of Kelly Ratana, ex-Sustainable Seas and NIWA. Our methodology is nearly complete, and we are ready to apply for funding to carry out the project.