Meet the Boffa Miskell Ecology Team: Hazel Burridge
21 November 2022
SHARE
Hamilton is one of the only cities in New Zealand to still support a resident population of long-tailed bats. Adding a chiropterologist to the team complements the existing expertise in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecology.
With a diverse background across environmental science, soil microbiology and ecology, Hazel Burridge has an in-depth knowledge of ecological assessments and mitigation, focussing predominantly on bats.
Both of her sons moved to New Zealand some years ago, and after spending ‘a couple of wonderful holidays’ with them, Hazel decided to make the move to the Southern Hemisphere and join them. Although COVID interfered with the intended timeline, she joined Boffa Miskell in August of this year.
Working as a senior ecologist within large consultancies as well as running her own business has given her an appreciation of the range of inputs required to successfully manage a project from initial scoping through to the construction phase. Hazel’s work has included forestry, quarry, infrastructure and housing development projects. She held UK licences in the UK to survey and handle bats, and assess the impacts of developments and habitat change. She’s continuing that work here.
Hamilton managing partner Dave Moule says, “Hazel brings a wealth of experience and technical expertise. Having a specialist of her calibre based here in Hamilton has been long sought-after. Hazel brings a calm and pragmatic approach to her work and is really passionate about what she does.”
Hamilton is one of the only cities in New Zealand to still support a resident population of long-tailed bats (Chalinolobus tuberculatus). The long-tailed bat is unique to New Zealand and is one of only two remaining species of native terrestrial mammals.
“In the UK I worked with a range of different species, but bats always stood out as being so amazingly evolved as well as so misunderstood. There is so much we still don’t know about them,” Hazel says.
“Unlike New Zealand’s bats, many of the bat species in the UK live in buildings and none of them forage on the forest floor. There are also a lot of similarities though, and one of the challenges is working out what information from abroad is relevant to our bats here. It’s an exciting time to be involved in bat ecology in New Zealand,” she continues.
Most of the large-scale residential, commercial and energy-related projects that Boffa Miskell is involved with in the Waikato have necessitated surveys for bats and subsequent Ecological Impact Assessments; and these issues are not unique to the Waikato. There are a number of projects in other regions throughout the country where expertise in native bats is in demand.
Hazel has hit the ground running working on projects ranging from housing through to some ambitious renewable energy projects. She also has been able to join the Department of Conservation on one of their forest bat monitoring projects.
Outside of the office, Hazel can be found walking with her two dogs, or “…trying to squeeze just one more vegetable plot or fruit tree into my garden. I’ve joined a woodturning class which is something new for me and very enjoyable; and I’m hoping to get another motorbike soon and do a bit of sightseeing on two wheels.”
“There are lots of amazing places still to visit, but one of my favourites so far has been Kerosene Creek, it doesn’t get much better than a river of warm water,” she continues. “And Whirinaki Forest Reserve is a very special place — it was my first opportunity to see New Zealand’s bats in their native habitat.”
Find out more