A marine scientist with many interests - David Culliford

David enjoys the way research allows him to follow his own marine studies interests - of which he has many - and the way he has been able to mentor research scholarship students and involve them in his projects. 

Recent projects include:

• Ongoing research investigating habitat health within the Waikareao Estuary
• Development of the ‘Davinator’, a low-cost and portable system for mapping underwater habitats in shallow coastal waters combining sonar data with photogrammetry, using a fish finder and GoPro camera inside a waterproof box
• Monitoring the Northern Seawall Renewal Project in Tauranga Harbour with the creation of an artificial natural rocky foreshore. 

You can also read more about how concrete structures along the Tauranga waterfront are being transformed into vibrant marine habitats through David’s innovative ‘living sea wall’ research.

Recent publications include:

Culliford, D. (2025). I’ll be back: The Davinator enables repeatable habitat assessment and mapping in shallow aquatic environments. Southland Institute of technology Journal of Applied Research.  

Wilde, T., Culliford, D., & Jeans, R. (2024), Tauranga Northern Seawall renewal, 'Living Seawall' project. Coastal News, 85, 3-5.