Physical and biological monitoring of sandy beaches within the Greater Wellington region for Greater Wellington Regional Council. Sampling sites are located on an eastern Wairarapa beach near Castlepoint. Sampling frequency = annually for the first 3 years then 5yearly (Jan/Feb/Mar). Sampling began in 2008 and is ongoing. Number of sites = 2 total on 1 beach. Extent of site = 2 transects spaced 50m apart spanning from high to low water marks. Number of replicates = 2 transects per site, 6 stations per transect, 3 replicate infaunal cores per station. Measured variables = Infaunal communities using 1mm mesh (species identified to lowest taxonomic level possible and enumerated). Sediment characteristics: grain size, redox (in field) and salinity. Sampling protocol & QA = Protocol similar to Aerts et al. (2004). External taxonomic identification of infauna.

Physical, chemical and biological monitoring of subtidal sediments within the Greater Wellington region for Greater Wellington Regional Council. Sampling sites are located in Wellington and Porirua Harbours. Sampling frequency = 2-5yearly (Oct/Nov). Sampling began in 2004 (Porirua) and 2006 (Wellington) and is ongoing. Number of sites = 22 total: Porirua (5) and Wellington (17, though this will decrease to 10-11). Extent of site = 20m diameter circular plot. Depth range sampled: 1.7 m to 23.0 m. Number of replicates = 8 infaunal cores, 5 sediment samples (composed of 5 sediment cores each) per site. Measured variables = Infaunal communities (species identified to lowest taxonomic level possible and enumerated). Sediment characteristics: grain size, TOC cadmium, nickel, lead, zinc, chromium, copper and arsenic. Sampling protocol & QA = External taxonomic identification of infauna. Sediment analysis external (Malvern Particle Analyser).

Physical and chemical monitoring of coastal water in the Greater Wellington region for the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Sampling sites are located in Lake Onoke and Porirua Harbour. Sampling frequency = monthly (outgoing and low-mid tide where possible). Sampling began in 2010 and is ongoing. Number of sites = 7-8 total. Number of replicates = 1 per site. Measured variables = Water quality: salinity, conductivity, DO%, DOmg/l, temp, PH, E coli, Enterococci, TP, DRP, TKN, NO2, NO3, NNN, NH4, Chlorophyll a, turbidity, suspended solids, volatile SS, TOC. Sampling protocol & QA = Internal field monitoring protocol and QA procedures. Water samples taken from top 0.5m of water column.

Physical and biological monitoring of estuaries within the Greater Wellington region for Greater Wellington Regional Council. Sampling sites are located in the Whareama, Hutt, Porirua and Waikanae estuaries. Sampling frequency = annual (Jan/Feb). Sampling began in 2004, became a regular programme in 2007 and is ongoing. Number of sites = 7 total (1 to 4 sites per estuary). Extent of site = 1800m2 (60m x 30m). Number of replicates = 10 per site. Measured variables = Infaunal communities (species identifed to lowest taxonomic level possible and enumerated), epifauna and epiflora (identified in the field) and mapping of broadscale macroalgae cover in selected estuaries. Sediment characteristics (basic grain size, ash free dry weight, redox (in field), TOC, nitrogen, phosphorus, cadmium, nickel, lead, zinc, chromium and copper). Sediment erosion/deposition (cm/y): depth of sediment layer measured (using sediment plates buried at most sites). Sampling protocol & QA = External taxonomic identification of infauna. Basic sediment grain size = 2mm & 63µm sieves, gravimetric (% gravel, sand, and silt) and sediment characteristics analysis conducted by Hills Laboratories.

Water quality monitoring in estuaries within the Greater Wellington region for the Greater Wellington Regional Council. Data collection began in the 1990s. Sampling sites are located in Wellington Harbour, Porirua, Paraparaumu, Otaki, Castlepoint and Riversdale. Sampling frequency = weekly (Nov to Mar) and monthly for rest of the year. Samples are generally collected between 8am and 4pm. Sampling began in the 1990s and is ongoing. Number of sites = 76 total. Number of replicates = 1 per site. Measured variables = Water measurements: temperature, E Coli (only at an estuarine site), Enterococci, Faecal coliforms (at 9 sites which are also considered recreational shellfish gathering sites) and turbidity (at sites where this is thought to affect bacterial counts). Sampling protocol & QA = A list of field and laboratory methods can be found in Ryan & Warr (2010).