nicola
pyper

Nicola joined 4Sight in October 2022 as a Senior Ecology Consultant, based in the Tauranga office.  Supporting our Ecology team, Nicola is involved in fieldwork, project management, data analysis, and report writing, with her specialist field being freshwater ecology.  

 

During her seven years in the industry, Nicola has worked in environmental consulting and also in research. She has embraced the opportunity to work and study ecosystems across the country, having lived, worked, and studied across Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Dunedin, and now Tauranga. Conducting fieldwork across the country has given Nicola first-hand experience of observing, describing, and assessing environments ranging from Northland to Southland. She has provided expert freshwater ecological advice to a range of clients including local government, central government, the renewable energy sector, and iwi groups. Her technical background covers stream assessments; ecological impact assessments; fish tagging and tracking studies; fish translocation; ecological monitoring; fisheries studies; pest fish management; and environmental DNA (eDNA).  

 

Nicola continues to be actively involved in research and development and is currently working on a research project in conjunction with the University of Waikato, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, the Department of Conservation, and Forest and Bird, investigating the application of eDNA monitoring to the management of the invasive brown bullhead catfish.  

 

Originally from London, the outdoor environment of New Zealand made a significant impression on her when she arrived as a six-year-old. This impression was lasting and led her to enter the environmental and resource management industry. In her spare time, you can also find Nicola out and about in the outdoors - being a keen surfer - or staying fit on the squash court or in the gym, where she teaches group fitness classes.