About me and my mahi

Kia ora.
Nō England oku tīpuna.
I tipu ake au ki Tauranga Moana.
E noho ana au ki Tāmaki Makaurau.
Ko Wednesday Davis tōku ingoa.

I am a recent MSc graduate from the University of Auckland having recently studied the fine-scale foraging behaivours of marine megafauna in Tī​kapa Moana - Te Moananui-ā-Toi – the Hauraki Gulf. 

He kaimahi ahau ki te kura moana. I am an Experiencing Marine Reserve coordinator and snorkel guide, delivering the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme to Primary, Intermediate and Highschool students throughout Tāmaki Makaurau and assiting with social media, outreach and delivery of community snorkelling adventures.

I tipu ake au ki Tauranga moana. Originally from Mount Maunganui, I am an avid diver and love being in, on and around the water and love sharing my passion for environmental conservation, research and education with others.

I am a 2022 Y25 for the YWCA - a group of 25 young women and non binary people who are doing incredible things in Aotearoa.  In 2021, I was a Kupe Leadership scholar mentored by Deidre Vercoe (BLAKE Leader, Operations Manager, Kākāpō and Takahē) and sponsored by the McCall MacBain Foundation. In early 2021 I also completed a BLAKE Ambassadorship with the Department of Conservation, working with Hoiho and Rāpoka. During my studies, I have worked as an Assistant Aquarist at Kelly Tarlton’s Aquarium (2017-2021) and in 2019/20 completed a Summer Internship with Auckland Council’s RIMU department.

My mahi:​

As a young marine scientist, I love discovering the diverse connections and interactions between land and sea, ecosystems, and species. This passion has led me to pursue research investigating behavioural interactions between marine megafauna in the Hauraki Gulf.

The hidden interconnectivity between terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments highlights the need for creative and innovative solutions to mitigate and reduce anthropogenic stressors. In particular, the hidden impacts of human-induced climate change on our oceans and the communities that rely on them.
To conserve our oceans, I believe leaders will need to push boundaries, address our apathy towards our use of marine resources and the disconnect between the management of issues on land and in the ocean. There is a clear need for more female representation in these kaitiaki and leadership positions.

Through my outreach, education and science communication roles, I hope to inspire and empower women and girls to both explore and protect our marine environments.