Colin Meurk
{{Short description|New Zealand ecologist (born 1947)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox academic
| name = Colin Meurk
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=100%}}
| image = 002 Dr Colin Meurk (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Meurk in 2021
| birth_name = Colin Douglas Meurk
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1947}}
| birth_place =
| spouse =
| title =
| discipline = Ecology
| sub_discipline = New Zealand native, landscape ecology and urban ecology
| workplaces = Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research
| alma_mater = University of Canterbury, University of Otago
| education =
| thesis_title = Alpine phytoecology of the rainshadow mountains of Otago and Southland, New Zealand
| thesis_url = https://newzealandecology.org/system/files/articles/NZJEcol1_27.pdf
| thesis_year = 1982
| doctoral_students =
| known_for = Conservation advocacy and ecological restoration in Christchurch, New Zealand
| awards =
}}
Colin Meurk {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM}} (born 1947) is a New Zealand ecologist.
Education and academia
Meurk attended high school at St Andrew's College, Christchurch, graduating in 1965. In 1969 he completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Canterbury. Between 1970 and 1981 he completed a doctorate at the University of Otago, with his thesis analysing the production rate of plant biomass in tussock grassland at the southern end of the South Island.{{citation|url=https://newzealandecology.org/system/files/articles/NZJEcol1_27.pdf|access-date=2024-10-17|date=1982|title=Alpine phytoecology of the rainshadow mountains of Otago and Southland, New Zealand|first=Colin|last=Meurk}}
In his role as a research fellow at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research he assisted in creating landscape models for creating ecological restoration plans across large areas, as well as a project to restore the ecology of the Waipara wine-growing region.
Advocacy
Meurk has advocated for improvements to the urban ecology of Christchurch. He serves as the president of the Travis Wetland trust and was a key figure in securing the wetland as a protected reserve when it was being considered as a location for a housing development in the late 1980s and early 1990s.{{citation|title=Swamp guardians fight urban development plans|page=9|language=en|work=The Press|date=1988-10-07|access-date=2024-11-07|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19881007.2.74.1}} He is involved with ecological restoration projects there and across Christchurch.{{citation|title=Dr. Colin Meurk seeks to save ancient New Zealand|language=en|work=San Diego Reader|first1=Chris|last1=Ahrens|access-date=2024-10-17|url=https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2024/jul/17/golden-dreams-dr-colin-meurk-seeks-to-save-ancient-new-zealand/}} He has advocated for the creation of a predator free eco-sanctuary within the residential red zone, similar to the Zealandia project in Wellington.{{citation|title=Waitākiri Eco-sanctuary|language=en-NZ|work=Christchurch Envirohub - The home of Environmental and Sustainable Groups in greater CHCH|first1=Megan|last1=Blakie|date=2024-01-21|access-date=2024-10-17|url=https://www.chchenvirohub.org/waitakirieco-sanctuary/}} Meurk was instrumental in creating the Christchurch 360 Trail; a walking track that circles Christchurch to demonstrate the wide ecological diversity of the area.{{citation|title=In My Back Yard: The Christchurch 360 Trail|first=Bob|last=Frame|work=Chill - Explore with Us|access-date=2024-10-18|url=https://www.chillout.co.nz/blogs/news/in-my-back-yard-the-christchurch-360-trail}}{{citation|title=Christchurch investiture ceremony - Friday 2 July 2021|date=2021-07-02|language=en|work=Governor General of New Zealand|access-date=2024-10-17|url=https://gg.govt.nz/image-galleries/9178/media?page=1}}
In 2021 Meurk was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the Governor-General of New Zealand for services to ecological restoration.
In 2022 he ran for a seat on the Christchurch City Council in the Fendalton ward, but was not successful.{{citation|url=https://www.ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/The-Council/How-the-Council-works/Elections/2022-elections/Christchurch-City-Council-2022-Triennial-Elections-Final-FPP-Result.pdf|access-date=2024-10-18|date=2022-10-14|first=Jo|last=Daly|publisher=Christchurch City Council|title=Christchurch City Council 2022 Triennial Elections Declaration of Result}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meurk, Colin}}
Category:New Zealand ecologists
Category:University of Otago alumni
Category:University of Canterbury alumni
Category:People educated at St Andrew's College, Christchurch