An opportunity for the community to engage with experts about coastal and economic developments taking place in the Bay of Plenty is being offered at a day-long public symposium in Tauranga.

Some of the topics up for debate at the The Coastal Economic Symposium include agribusiness, coastal research and economic development in the Bay of Plenty and around the world, as well as looking at the issues we face.

A public aquaculture symposium is being held in Tauranga.

Called Treasuring the Bay, Whakamana te taonga o te Moana a Toi, is It's the University's second summer symposium in Tauranga. Partnership and Liaison Manager Dr Nigel Calder said last January's event highlighted the range of developments taking place in the Bay of Plenty.

'It's important for the University to provide a forum to share these ideas and developments with the wider public. At the same time, we need to acknowledge the challenges we are facing and look at how we can mitigate them.,” says Nigel.

'This is a great opportunity for people to hear expert views about what's at stake for the region, what we are doing really well and what we could be doing differently.”

Forum speakers include a range of experts, including the University's Agribusiness Professor, Jacqueline Rowarth, and Coastal Science Professor, Chris Battershill as well as biofuels expert Professor Rocky de Nys from James Cook University in Australia.

Topics include agribusiness, sustainable economics in the Bay, aquaculture, marine pharmaceuticals and iwi economic development. A presentation on the Mauri of the Bay will also discuss what this concept means and how it might impact Bay of Plenty businesses.

Summer School research students, including those from tertiary partners Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, will give a brief synopsis of their projects, many of which have revolved around research as part of the Rena Long-term Environmental Monitoring Programme.

The Coastal Economic Symposium is a free public event and will be held on Friday January 25 from 9pm-3pm at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's Bongard Centre in Cameron Road. Bookings are essential for seating and catering purposes. For further information and to register, please email rsvp@waikato.ac.nz, or visit http://events.waikato.ac.nz