This collection provides information about the work of New Zealand’s world-class science and technology sectors in relation to Toxins. Included are profiles of organisations carrying out work in this area.
During 2009, several dogs died on Narrow Neck and Cheltenham beaches in Auckland. Scientists at the Cawthron Institute were instrumental in identifying grey side-gilled sea slugs as the toxic creature and tetrodotoxin as the toxin.
Scientists from Cawthron Institute discovered high levels of deadly tetrodotoxin in grey side-gilled sea slugs. They’re now trying to find out where the tetrodotoxin came from and how it got into the grey side-gilled sea slugs.
The discovery of tetrodotoxin in the grey side-gilled sea slug is of particular concern to iwi who live around the Hauraki Gulf and rely on kaimoana as a food source.
The Cawthron Institute is New Zealand’s largest independent community-owned research centre. It has over 180 scientific and technical staff based in Nelson and Marlborough.
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