Exotic caulerpa is an invasive seaweed now present in New Zealand waters, posing a serious threat to the health of our marine and coastal environments.
It can spread rapidly across the seafloor and into intertidal areas, forming dense mats that smother native habitats and displace marine life. Its ability to spread through fragmentation makes it difficult to control, and challenging to remove once established.
Evidence from overseas shows that where similar species take hold, they can significantly reduce both biomass and biodiversity over time. In the Hauraki Gulf, exotic caulerpa threatens marine taonga, shellfish beds, and the ecosystems we are working to restore, including kūtai reefs.
Revive Our Gulf supports coordination and information sharing across the response by convening the Hauraki Gulf Exotic Caulerpa Community Information Forum and Tech Talks.
Whether you’re directly impacted, involved in response efforts, or simply interested in the health of the Gulf, you can sign up to receive updates at the bottom of this page. Meetings are usually held on Teams, with recordings provided shortly afterward by email as well as being listed below.
Originally initiated by the Hauraki Gulf Forum and Auckland Council, this forum brings together communities, agencies, and Mana Whenua responding to exotic caulerpa.
It provides a space to share updates, connect across the region, and build a clearer picture of what’s happening on the ground. You’ll hear from local response leads, government agencies, and community groups about current activities, challenges, and emerging approaches.
The Community Forum is a place for:
The Hauraki Gulf Exotic Caulerpa Community Information Forum will not:
Recordings of previous exotic Caulerpa Tech Talks are available to view using the links below:
Upcoming meeting dates for 2026 have been confirmed, with registration links emailed to our mailing list and posted here as they become available.
Our Exotic Caulerpa Tech Talks focus on the tools and methods being developed and used to manage the spread of exotic Caulerpa.
Topics include surveillance, treatment, removal, and disposal. These sessions provide a practical view of what’s being trialled in the field, and create space for shared learning across the response community.
The purpose of these Tech Talks is to provide for:
Recordings of previous exotic Caulerpa Tech Talks are available to view using the links below:
Sign up for our Exotic Caulerpa newsletter at the bottom of this page, where you’ll be notified about upcoming Tech Talks and Community Information Forums, and receive recordings of all meetings direct to your inbox.
Use the form below to join our exotic caulerpa mailing list and receive notifications about upcoming Exotic Caulerpa Community Information Forum meetings and Tech Talks.
