Director and founder of Mahurangi Technical Institute Paul has a lifetime of experience in the twin fields of aquaculture and education.  Also owner of Decker Consultants Ltd., environmental consultants specialising in aquatic ecosystems and fish transfers.

Raised on a fish farm in Queensland, Paul designed and built New Zealand's largest freshwater fish farm in the 1980s which was originally designed for Marron Crayfish (Cherax tenuimanus) and which currently raises Grass Carp and Silver Carp for aquatic weed control and for table fish.  He has also owned and operated a number of Oyster farms in New Zealand and currently has a very hands-on-role in the breeding of several species of fish at Mahurangi Technical Institute's premises in Warkworth.  Paul holds the New Zealand National Certificate in Aquaculture.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

• Fish farm design and construction (recirculation and pond systems)

• Fish breeding specialities: Grass Carp, Silver Carp and Goldfish

• Aquaculture consultancy

• Environmental Impact Reports

• Electric Fishing

• Research: New Zealand Shortfinned Eels

Born in Iraq, Tagried graduated from Aston University in Birmingham in 1986.  Her PhD is in the nutrition of Carp and Rainbow Trout, from Manchester University in England.  After working with a number of fish species on farms in Iraq Tagried and her family migrated to New Zealand in 1997.  She is currently Chief Scientific Officer at Mahurangi Technical Institute's aquaculture research facility in Warkworth and is responsible for the research undertaken on the breeding of New Zealand Shortfinned Eels.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

• Fish nutrition

• Fish breeding (wide range of species)

• Fish sterilization technology

• Aquaculture consultancy

To download a detailed CV, click here.

John also regularly writes and illustrates books and magazines (NZ Geographic in particular) and was for many years the regular "Nature Watch" correspondent in the NZ Herald.  He also design and writes educational material in the field of biology and writes and illustrates pamphlets, informational notice boards and other informational material for environmental agencies.

From 1970 to 1985 John was a senior lecturer and research fellow at the University of Auckland and he holds a BSc (hons.) and a PhD in marine biology from London University.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

• Training and education

• Sign and leaflet design

• Environmental Impact Reports

• Inshore marine biology

• Shellfish biology

Currently Special Projects manager at Mahurangi Technical Institute, David has spent a lifetime in the ornamental fish industry including owning two aquarium stores, aquatic and training manager for another chain of aquarium and water garden stores, owning a water plant nursery (aquarium plants and water garden plants), owning an aquarium and water garden installation and maintenance company, consulting to the ornamental fish industry in New Zealand both retail and wholesale, as well as being a prolific author of articles on "fishy" topics.

David was instrumental in the conception and production of the Certificate in Companion Animal Services, New Zealand's first qualification for the retail pet industry currently offered through the Nelson Malborough Institute of Technology.  David wrote the aquatic and advanced aquatic components of this qualificaiton and serves part time as aquatics tutor on that course (currently over 300 students).

David holds qualifications in Adult Teaching and Retail Management.  He is also responsible for sales marketing of this aquatic consultancy service and is likely to be the first port of call for new clients.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

• Aquarium store design and construction

• Aquarium store staff training

• Ornamental fish industry consultant

• Fish breeding (ornamentals and NZ Native Freshwater fish)

• Aquarium and Water Garden design and troubleshooting (Planted aquaria and Reef Aquaria especially)

To download a detailed CV, click here.

Adrian is chief systems engineer at Mahurangi Technical Institute's aquaculture facility in Warkworth.  His background is in the field of seafood holding and transport systems and Recirculating aquaculture system design and construction.  He designed and built the Mahurangi Technical Institute aquaculture research facility in Warkworth and is intimately involved in the breeding of Eels, Grass Carp, Silver Carp and other species.

Adrian also served several years as the tutor of Mahurangi Technical Institute's Diploma of Marine Technology, a qualification designed to train technicians for the aquaculture and fisheries industry.  He holds qualifications in Marine Technology, Adult Teaching and Companion Animal Services.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

• Aquatic system design and construction, recicrculating and flow through

• Materials engineering

• Fish breeding

• Staff training

• Electric Fishing

A graduate of the Diploma in Marine Technology, Kim is responsible for the day to day care of the extensive collection of live fish ranging from New Zealand native freshwater and New Zealand native seawater through to introduced freshwater species, tropical fish and reef aquaria.

Qualified in Adult Teaching Kim is a part-time tutor for Mahurangi Technical Institute but his main focus is as Lab Technician and assistant to Dr. Kurwie in the eel breeding research and other fish breeding activities.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

• Aquatic system construction

• Fish husbandry

• Fish breeding

• Live food culture

• Staff training

• Electric Fishing

Dean works with Mahurangi Technical Institute in the areas of design and construction of aquaria and recirculating aquaculture systems for our research facility and for outside clients.  He has a lifetime involvement in the ornamental fish industry.

For many years Dean was the manager of and a partner in the Christian Bay Paua Farm north of Auckland, New Zealand.  He was responsible for design and construction of the facility, stock conditioning, spawning and rearing, and all aspects of the daily operation of the farm.  This farm was renown for its many innovative features, many of which were of Deans doing.

Particular Areas of Expertise:

• Aquarium and aquatic system design and construction

• Paua husbandry