On Topic
The photo shows a woman with dark hair in an elegant black jacket and a man with glasses, a beard and a black jacket with a white shirt standing in front of the New Zealandflag.
Die deutsche Botschafterin in Neuseeland, Nicole Menzenbach, und Julian Lilkendey. | Foto: Friederike Nürge

Strengthening scientific ties between Germany and New Zealand

On behalf of the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Dr. Julian Lilkendey traveled to New Zealand as part of a delegation from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), and the German Research Foundation (DFG). The visit aimed to foster scientific and technical cooperation (WTZ) between Germany and New Zealand, strengthening existing partnerships and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.

ZMT is currently engaged in three collaborative projects with New Zealand partners: BioASSP (Biotechnological Application of Seaweed Secondary Products), Connecting Coastal Communities, and 700 Years of Human-Marine Interactions in Aotearoa. A key highlight of the visit was Ōtata Island, where previous fieldwork for the latter project had uncovered a shell midden containing centuries-old fish remains, crucial for reconstructing tipping points in the health of New Zealand’s coastal habitats.

During the trip, Dr. Lilkendey met with research partners at the University of Auckland (UoA) and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), got to know the German Ambassador to New Zealand, Nicole Menzenbach, and participated in discussions with the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to strengthen the framework for bilateral research collaboration. During the visit to Ōtata Island the delegation engaged with representatives of the local Māori Iwi, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, who play an integral role in conservation efforts and cultural heritage protection.

 

 The photo shows a woman and a man in grey T-shirts in the sunshine against a blue sky. The woman is holding a blue paper fan labelled ZMT up to the camera.

Pianina Kahui-McConnell und Laurie Beamish, Vertreter des lokalen Māori-Iwi Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki. | Foto: Julian Lilkendey

Ten women and six men stand together in a group, smiling into the camera, one woman holding a German and a New Zealand paper flag.

Die deutschen und neuseeländischen Delegationen bei den Gesprächen zur Stärkung der wissenschaftlich-technischen Zusammenarbeit (WTZ).

In Wellington, the delegation met with Sir Peter Gluckman, former Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, to discuss the ongoing reform of New Zealand’s academic and research landscape. Discussions also took place with representatives of the Royal Society of New Zealand, the country’s largest research funding body, about opportunities for strengthening bilateral research ties, particularly in the context of Horizon Europe and the expansion of mobility programs.

The visit reaffirmed the value of People-to-People connections, with New Zealand researchers as important value partners. Strengthening these ties will be essential in sustainably addressing global challenges such as climate change, ocean health, and biodiversity conservation. Moving forward, ZMT will continue working to expand collaboration opportunities, particularly in the Pacific region, and enhance scientific cooperation between Germany and New Zealand.

Contacts

  • Dr. Julian Lilkendey
    +49 (0)421 23800 - 0
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