Lyttelton Port Company’s (LPC) maintenance dredging.

Temporal coverage: from 1992 (ongoing)

Number of sites: 12 sites (disposal zones, outer harbour control zones, upper harbour regions)

Sampling frequency: 1992 baseline survey, a repeat of the survey following granting of permit (1994) and 5 yearly surveys thereafter

Main marine environment sampled: Coastal

Depth zone: Subtidal/Intertidal

Sedimentary type: Soft

Community association: Mud

Sampling method: Sediment cores, infauna cores, shellfish collection, in-situ water sampling

Parameters collected: Sediment physico-chemical properties, infauna community composition, shellfish contamination, water quality

Measured variables: Sediment (grain size, organic content), infaunal community composition, intertidal survey (substrate characteristics, zonations patterns of flora/fauna), water quality (salinity, temperature, DO, secchi). Except for in 1992, sediments were also analysed for contaminants (SVOCs, organotins, aliphatic hydrocarbons, trace metals) along with fauna (organotins, SVOCs, trace metals).

Species/community data: Benthic invertebrates, intertidal epibiota & algae

Other data collection: Unknown

Ongoing as part of their consent

Quality assurance: Yes