Monique Holmes

Growing up around the beaches of Tauranga, Monique always loved the ocean. Studying marine biology gave her the chance to combine what she loved with learning.

“I feel very passionate about conservation of the marine environment and preserving that environment for future generations.

“I hope to work for a Māori organisation, as inclusion of Māori rights and views into the aquatic arena is something I feel very strongly about.”

Researching marine invertebrates

“My research is part of a larger project being undertaken by NIWA, called ‘Crustacean Indicators of Marine Environmental Change.’ I’m studying how marine amphipods could be indicators of heavy metal pollution in the coastal marine environment.

“Collecting and examining marine invertebrates is one of my favourite parts of my research. I enjoy getting an assortment of cute little animals and having a close up look at them back at the lab. It’s also a bonus that watching David Attenborough’s ‘Blue Planet’ can be considered studying.”

Great opportunities

Monique is currently a mentor to Māori and Pacifika students through Āwhina. “This is an opportunity for me to give back to the university community through encouraging and supporting other students in science and sharing my passion for marine biology.

“I’ve also had the pleasure of completing two summer scholarships – one with the Department of Conservation and the other at Te Ohu Kiamoana. These enabled me to experience what working in the field of marine biology is like.”