Dr Roger Grace Memorial Fund

60825909 321267421880577 4649982171631583232 n Dr Roger Grace 1945-2019

A memorial fund has been established and is administered by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust.

A special committee is under establishment to decide on the use of these funds, made up of a Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust representative, a member of the Grace family and other environmental organisations Roger has worked with. Queries to be directed to Samara Nicholas - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Dr Roger Grace Memorial fund is currently calling for proposals of a max value of $1000 towards creating a no-take MPA network for New Zealand. Applicants must write a 1 pager maximum describing what they are doing and how their project contributes towards a MPA network in Aotearoa (we will accept applications from individuals, as well as groups/organisations).

Send a pdf of your proposal by the 1st April 2021 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The priorities of the memorial fund are below:

Long term crayfish monitoring at Tawharanui
Marine conservation establishment projects (no take and long term)
Memorial annual Whangateau Snorkel Day
Triennial award for early career recipients for contributions to New Zealand marine conservation and communication, to support and give credence to their future work

Please note that Mountains to Sea Conservation is a registered charity (CC23406) and has fully audited accounts. All donations are tax deductable. The funding received for the Dr Roger Grace Memorial Fund has a separate bank account. The special committee will decide on the use of these funds based on the priorities above.

If you would like to help us to continue to make waves for Roger, please donate here.

Fund update May 2020

Thank you so much to everyone that has donated or shared this memorial fund.
On the 3rd February 2020, we held our first meeting of the memorial fund and a special committee was formed.

Special committee
Shelley and Vanessa Grace - Roger’s daughters
Katrina Goddard - Consultant
Nick Shears - Auckland University
Samara Nicholas and Lorna Doogan - Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust
Vince Kerr and Sally Richardson are advisors to the special committee.

Funds to date
Currently $9984.53 is held separate bank account of Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust
Tawharanui Marine Reserve Crayfish Monitoring 2020
Funded by the Roger Grace Memorial Fund
By Benjamin Hanns
With support from the Roger Grace Memorial Fund, crayfish surveys were carried out at long-term monitoring sites inside and outside the Tawharanui Marine Reserve in June 2020. This marked the twentieth year of data collection since the permanent transects were established by Dr Roger Grace in 1977. Within the boundaries of the Tawharanui Marine Reserve five sites are located across the reserve’s longshore extent, covering a representative area of rocky reef habitat (Figure 1). In the neighbouring fished waters, non-protected rocky reef habitat is represented by five sites; one positioned at Pukenihinihi Point and four on the southern side of the Tawharanui Peninsula. Using the exceptionally detailed maps drawn by Roger, that illustrate each boulder and crevice, a team of divers recorded every red rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) and packhorse lobster (Sagmariasus verreauxi) along each of the 50 x 10 m transects.
During the June 2020 surveys, a total of 77 legal and 18 sub-legal red lobsters were recorded on the reserve transects. This equated to an average of 15.4 (± 3.4 standard error) legal and 3.6 (± 2.2 standard error) sub-legal red lobster per transect in the reserve. A total of 20 sub-legal packhorse lobster were recorded at 2 of the five reserve transects. Outside the reserve, only 2 legal and 2 sub-legal red lobster were recorded. The 2 legal red lobster recorded outside the reserve are the first to be seen at that particular transect since 1980. A total of 33 sub-legal packhorse lobster were recorded at fished sites, but 30 of these were recorded in a single den at one of the fished sites. According to Roger, this den has always been a favourite and regular hideout for packhorse crayfish, but the number recorded in 2020 was higher than previously seen.
The long-term time series of red rock lobster shows declines in the number of legal and sublegal red lobster within the reserve since the mid to late 2000’s (Figure 2). These declines likely reflect broader declines in red rock lobster numbers within the Hauraki Gulf and suggest that although numbers within the reserve are substantially higher than outside the reserve, legal sized red lobster within the reserve may still be vulnerable to fishing extraction. Interestingly, the numbers of packhorse lobster (all sublegal) appears to have been increasing since the late 2000’s (Figure 3). Despite these increases, it is still extremely rare to see legal sized Packhorse lobster in this region.
The long-term data generated from continued monitoring of these transects is incredibly important in providing fisheries independent information on lobster abundances and how they are changing over time, both inside and outside marine reserves. It is concerning that populations in the reserve are diminishing and suggests the effectiveness of the Tawharanui Marine Reserve in terms of conserving lobster populations can be improved.

Whangateau Snorkel Day - Sunday 8th November
Explore the mangroves of Whangateau/ Omaha Harbour with an experienced snorkel guide, you never know what you might spot! Discover crabs, triplefins, spotties, parore and yellow eyed mullet. Fun for the whole whanau.
Registrations essential. This event is in memory of the late Dr Roger Grace. It is funded by The Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation with the support of the Whangateau Holiday Park
Register here www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/whangateau-snorkel-day-registration-126180660753
Bring your own gear or get free hire of our mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuits.
Recommended for everyone 5 years and up. All children under 15 years must be accompanied by an adult beach observer. Experienced guides and advanced safety procedures will be in place on the day. Donations appreciated on the day.

Dr Roger Grace memorial MPA network project

The Dr Roger Grace Memorial fund is calling for proposals of a max value of $1000 towards creating a no-take MPA network.
Applicants must write a 1 pager maximum describing what they are doing and how their project contributes towards a MPA network in Aotearoa (we will accept applications from individuals, as well as groups/organisations)
Send a pdf of your proposal by the 18th January 2021 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Volunteer story - Patrick Smallhorn-West had spent a summer with Roger when he was doing his undergraduate degree. Patrick has written a really moving piece about that time he spent with Roger.
https://www.emr.org.nz/index.php/news/200-memorial-snorkel-for-roger-grace

DHW7865 Edit Dean Wright

DHW7747 Edit Dean Wright DHW7630 Dean Wright

Images by Dean Wright from of 2012 habitat survey around Waewaetorea/Okahu Islands.

Dr Roger Grace Memorial Fund Web Poster

Dr_Roger_Grace_Memorial_Fund_Web_Poster_PDF.pdf11.19 MB

Stories and images

“A humble guy with immense talent” - Dave Moran
“This man was a true pioneer, generous to a fault, and always willing to teach and guide” - Paul Irving
“Your legacy is alive and well through the many you've touched and inspired. The future of our oceans the much better for your unrelenting passion!” - Peter Crabb

A must read by Roger Grace on why we need no take zones

Or watch Roger's talk on youtube Part 1 and Part 2

A lovely tribute to Roger and his photographs in The Guardian

If you would like to add your stories and images about Roger Grace please email Lorna on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we can continue to add to his legacy.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.emr.org.nz/roger-grace-fund#sigProIdaa87e26f31

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