Past Research
From the last 24 years.
Knowledge about the Pūharakekenui/Styx River ecosystem and the impacts on it is essential to protecting the river’s values. This knowledge can come about through research investigations and monitoring, and then applying this knowledge to decisions associated with its management.
Research is currently undertaken by Christchurch City Council and Environment Canterbury in terms of their statutory roles to safeguard the environment, while at the same time allowing for development.
The Styx Living Laboratory Trust has also been established to oversee the establishment of the Styx catchment as “a place that focuses on both learning and research”.
The Trust has initiated the Styx Living Laboratory Trust Summer Student scholarships and supported the Royal Society Teacher fellowship programme.
Details of past recipients are listed below. If any teacher or student is interested in becoming involved in these programmes, or has a published research report involving the Pūharakekenui/ Styx catchment, contact the Trust.
Styx Living Laboratory Trust Community Research Results
Community collected data is periodically collated and scientifically analysed into a summary of the monitoring program, the results generated by the data collected, and recommendations for future work.
2020 Trapping Stats
Starting the Ecology Conversation: Sophie Harrison
Spatialising the Styx: Jiaying Chai
Invertebrate Communities of the Styx River 2006-2011
Assessment of Algal Diversity in the Styx River Catchment: Jasmine Braidwood
Spatial Distribution of Aquatic Invertebrates: Katie Collins
Invertebrate Sampling of the Plant Trial Area: Shona Sam
Royal Society Teacher Fellowships
This scheme is funded by the Government and administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand. It offers primary, intermediate and secondary teachers the opportunity to improve their teaching through experience in technological, scientific or social sciences practice. During their fellowship, teachers fully immerse themselves into the discovery of knowledge or the transformation of it into useful products or systems and, as a consequence, become more skilled in the communication of science and technology. The SLLT has supported or hosted a number of fellowships in the past.
More information about the programme can be found at the Royal Society of New Zealand (http://royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/funds-and-opportunities/) website.
The Salt Marsh Plants of Brooklands Lagoon: An identification guide: Graeme Worner
Styx River Catchment Aquatic Ecology 2018: Instream Consulting Limited
Styx Esplanade Reserve Community Planning for the Future: Christchurch City Council
Styx Water Quality Report 2005: Summary of Data March 2004 - October 2005
Styx Living Laboratory Trust Summer Student Scholarship
As part of its ongoing research programme, the Styx Living Laboratory Trust (SLLT) endeavours to offer an annual scholarship to enable tertiary students to undertake a research project within the Pūharakekenui/Styx catchment over the summer holiday period.
Previously offered in collaboration with Lincoln University, the Shirley Papanui Community Board and Christchurch City Council, is now funded entirely by the SLLT and supported by Partnership organisation/s. Past recipients and their area of interest are listed below.
Spring Habitats in the Styx River Catchment; Community Monitoring of Priority Conservation Spring Sites: Eliot Sinclair & Partners Limited
Trout Spawning in the Styx River; An Update: Mark Taylor
Habitat Enhancement: Ashleigh Matthews
Effectiveness of a predator-proof fence for conserving lizard fauna in the Styx Catchment , Christchurch: A mark-recapture study: Christine McClure
The Effectiveness of Restoring the Radcliffe Road Drain: Guinevere Coleman
Aquatic Plants in Christchurch River Systems: W. Van Den Ende and T. Partridge
Christchurch City Council
The Christchurch City Council has played an invaluable role in The Styx Living Laboratory Trust's history.
There are numerous research papers & documents on The Styx that were commissioned or written by the Christchurch City Council, if you know of one that isn't yet listed on this page, please email your finding to us at styxllbom@gmail.com.
For research documents on other areas of the city, please visit the Christchurch City Council Website (https://www.ccc.govt.nz/environment).
The Aquatic Ecology of the Upper Kaputone Stream and the Effects of Reduced Flows: Mark Taylor and Shelley McMurtie
A Botanical Assessment and Weed Plan for the Styx River Banks between Spencerville Rd and Earlham St - November 2003: K. McCoombs
The Styx Vision 2000 - 2040: Christine Heremaia
Changes in Riparian Vegetation Along the Avon, Heathcote and Styx Rivers: K. McCoombs
Janet Stewart Reserve Landscape Concept Plan: Christchurch City Council
A Biological Re-evaluation of the Kaputone Stream: L.I. Voyce and J.A. Robb
Declaration of Charitable Trust Amended: The Styx Living Laboratory Trust
Biodiversity Values and Management Recommendations for the Styx River Mouth Reserve, Lower Waimakariri Regional Park: P. Grove
The Cultural Landscape 101 An Overview of the Cultural Landscape of the Styx River: Nicholas Moody
Pūharakekenui/ Styx River Catchment Tauākī Wai Pātaua/ Vision and Values: Christchurch City Council
Styx Mill Conservation Reserve Invertebrate Assessment: R.P. Macfarlane
Styx River/ Pūrākaunui Natural Asset Condition Report: Manfred von Tippelskirch and Peter Hayward
Smacks Creek Esplanade Reserve Community Planning for the Future: Christchurch City Council
Styx Catchment Land Usage Map: Christchurch City Council
Styx Mill Conservation Reserve Community Planning for the Future: Christchurch City Council
Learning Through Action Education for Sustainability LEOTC Programmes for Schools 2017: Christchurch City Council
Smacks Creek Biological Habitat Assessment Survey Summary Report: Shelley McMurtie and Juliet Milne
Lower Styx Road Revegetation Project: Christchurch City Council
Styx River Issues and Options Report: Christchurch City Council Drainage and Management Unit
Statement of Evidence: Antony Shadbolt
Avon-Heathcote Estuary (Ihutahi): Palaeoenvironmental Changes Project - Final Stage Report: James Goff and Catherine Chague-Goff
A consideration of aspects of the Styx River ecology, and its implications for whole-river management: Mark Taylor, Alistair Suren, and B.K. Sorrell
A Biological Survey of the Styx River Catchment: The Laboratory Division of the Christchurch Drainage Board
Future Proofing the Styx Living Laboratory Website: Chengyin Lin
SQMCI assessment of eight volunteer-monitored sites in the Styx River Catchment, Christchurch: Andrew Pugh
Terrestrial Arthropod Abundance and Diversity at Four Reserves along the Styx River: Aimee Robinson and Katie Collins
Recommendations for Establishing a Community Volunteer Bird Monitoring Program at Styx Mill Conservation Reserve: Maree Henderson-Fitzgerald
Survey of the Lizard Fauna of Janet Stewart and Styx Mill Conservation Reserves, Christchurch: Christine McClure
Styx Integrated Catchment Management Plan: Styx River Sediment Study: Golder Associates
Redwood Spring Ecological Values, Safety Analysis, Community Flow Monitoring and Long-Term Protection: Jens Zollhoefer
Inanga Spawning on the Lower Styx River: Mark Taylor
Vegetation & Landscape Potential Styx River Catchment Christchurch: Colin D. Meurk
Weed Plan for Styx Mill Conservation Reserve - September 2003: K. McCoombs
The Waterway along Regents Park Drive; A Consideration of its Ecology and Habitat Access: Mark Taylor
Weeds at Brooklands Lagoon: K. McCoombs
Gibsons Stream Biological Habitat Assessment Survey Summary Report: Shelley McMurtie and Juliet Milne
Sedimentation in the Styx River Catchment and Brooklands Lagoon: D. Murray Hicks and Maurice J. Duncan
Styx Catchment Black Map: J. Thomas and Thomas Cass
Other Styx Catchment Related Documents and Reports
Extensive information about the Pūharakekenui/Styx is contained in a wide range of documents. Some of these documents pre-date computer publishing technology. Original versions of most reports are available at Christchurch City Libraries (http://library.christchurch.org.nz/).
Volunteer Monitoring of Water Quality in New Zealand: Where does the Value Lie?: Annabelle Coates
John Sheppard Recollections - An Autobiography of the Life and Times of John Croxton Sheppard: Alison Harrington
Fish and Invertebrate Values of the Styx River Catchment: A Strategic Review: Mark Taylor
Confirmed and Faecal Coliform Bacteria in Cockles (Chone stutchburyi) in Estuaries Near Christchurch, New Zealand: M.J. Noonan and J.A. Robb