Mike Joy (freshwater ecologist) explained

Mike Joy
Birth Name:Michael Kevin Joy
Birth Date:12 September 1959
Birth Place:New Zealand
Alma Mater:Massey University
Thesis Title:The development of predictive models to enhance biological assessment of riverine systems in New Zealand
Thesis Url:http://mro.massey.ac.nz/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10179/1921/02_whole.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Thesis Year:2003
Doctoral Advisor:Russell Death
Robert McDowall
Brian Springett

Mike Joy (born 12 September 1959) is a New Zealand freshwater ecologist and science communicator. He is currently employed at the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.[1]

Dr Joy is publicly outspoken about the decline in freshwater quality and ecosystems, especially the impact of nutrient pollution from intensive dairying on New Zealand's "100% Pure", clean, green image. This has led to awards from scientific organisations, as well as criticism from the dairy industry and former Prime Minister John Key.

Career

Joy left school at 17. He worked various jobs including dairying, labouring, truck and taxi driving, building and sheep farming, before enrolling at Massey University in 1993 at the age of 33.[2] [3]

His Master's thesis, entitled Freshwater fish community structure in Taranaki: dams, diadromy or habitat quality? was completed in 1999 and received first class honours.[4] [5] This led to his PhD thesis, The development of predictive models to enhance biological assessment of riverine systems in New Zealand, submitted in 2003 and supervised by freshwater ecologist Russell Death, Robert McDowall and Brian Springett.[6]

He was a Senior Lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Science at Massey University in Palmerston North until May 2018.[4] From 2018 to May 2023, when the university disestablished his position, he was employed at the Institute for Governance and Policy Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.[7] In June 2023 it was announced he would take up a five year fellowship as the Morgan Foundation Senior Research Fellow in Freshwater Ecology at Victoria, funded by the Morgan Foundation.

He regularly gives talks around the country to environmental, farming, community and school groups.[2]

Criticism of New Zealand's '100% Pure' branding

On 16 November 2012, on the eve of the release of the movie The Hobbit, The New York Times published an article contrasting the image of New Zealand portrayed by Tourism New Zealand with the less appealing views put forward by others, including the Ministry for the Environment, the Green Party, and Federated Farmers.[8] Dr Joy was quoted as saying “There are almost two worlds in New Zealand. There is the picture-postcard world, and then there is the reality,” and that for a country purporting to be so pure, New Zealand seemed to be failing many international environmental standards.[8]

Following this, Dr Joy was accused of economic sabotage, treachery, ego-tripping and overstatement.[9] [10] [11] Mark Unsworth, from government relations consultancy Saunders Unsworth, accused Joy in a leaked email of selfish egotism, and stated that "You guys are the foot and mouth disease of the tourism industry. Most ordinary people in NZ would happily have you lot locked up".[12] Controversial political blogger Cameron Slater initially wrote in support of The New York Times article, stating that it was a "serious problem" that over half of New Zealand's rivers were unsafe for swimming, and that dairy farmers should not be subsidised for polluting.[13] However, Slater later came out in support of Unsworth's leaked email.[14] Slater is also widely quoted as saying that "Joy should be taken out and shot at dawn for economic sabotage" and calling him a traitor,[2] but these words appear to be commentary from other authors published on his blog.[15] Prime Minister John Key dismissed the criticism of the 100% Pure New Zealand brand, saying that the slogan was not inaccurate but needed "to be taken with a pinch of salt."[16]

Joy's statements were supported by the New Zealand Association of Scientists. In a press statement, the Association focused on claims in a New Zealand Herald editorial that damage currently being done to New Zealand's environment was insignificant and that criticism of Joy was "well-warranted" [contradicting statements]. The Association particularly opposed the implication that the damage caused by Dr Joy to New Zealand's international reputation and potential loss of tourists was of greater importance than "the need for truth in public debate".

In 2016, Joy was quoted as saying that he was hurt by the incident but undeterred, and that "for every one Unsworth, there are 20 people who randomly email me or ring me and thank me for what I'm doing."[2]

Awards

In 2009, Joy received the Ecology in Action award from the New Zealand Ecological Society.[17] In 2011, he was awarded Forest & Bird's Old Blue award for his research into freshwater ecology and his work bringing freshwater conservation issues to public attention.[18]

Joy received the Royal Society of New Zealand's Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement in 2013, for his contribution to the sustainable management and protection of New Zealand's freshwater ecosystems.[19] Recipients of the award are required to deliver a public lecture series over the next year, hosted by selected branches of the Royal Society.[20] Joy's 2014 tour was entitled The demise of New Zealand’s fresh waters: politics and science, where he discussed the sidelining of freshwater science by politics, the lack of acknowledgement of the loss of natural capital, and the importance of scientists speaking up for the science.[21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Water crusader Mike Joy wading into NZ's freshwater woes in new role. NZ Herald. Morton. Jamie. 7 June 2018.
  2. Web site: River Stance. New Zealand Listener. Macfie. Rebecca. 18 March 2016.
  3. Web site: Scientist Mike Joy ruffles dairying feathers again. Stuff. 15 May 2015 . 18 March 2016.
  4. Web site: Profile: Dr Mike Joy. Massey University. 18 March 2016.
  5. Joy . Michael . 1999 . Masters thesis . Freshwater fish community structure in Taranaki : dams, diadromy or habitat quality? . Massey Research Online, Massey University . 10179/6601 .
  6. Joy . Michael . 2003 . Doctoral thesis . The development of predictive models to enhance biological assessment of riverine systems in New Zealand . Massey Research Online, Massey University . 10179/1921 .
  7. Web site: Schwanecke . Gianina . 2023-06-16 . Leading freshwater scientist finds new home at same uni after position cut . 2023-06-18 . Stuff . en.
  8. News: New Zealand's Green Tourism Push Clashes With Realities. 16 November 2012. The New York Times. Anderson. Charles. 18 March 2016.
  9. News: Woe betide those who question our water quality. 10 December 2012. Taranaki Daily News. Stuff. Stewart. Rachel. 18 March 2016.
  10. News: Editorial: 100 Pure critic needs to be fair and accurate. 18 March 2016. New Zealand Herald. 26 November 2012.
  11. News: Shadwell. Talia. Scientist defends statements. 18 March 2016. Manawatu Standard. Stuff. 24 November 2012.
  12. News: Martin. Josh. Lobbyist stands by 'ego trip' email. 18 March 2016. New Zealand Herald. 23 November 2012.
  13. Web site: Slater. Cameron. New York Times on shit in our rivers. Whale Oil. 18 March 2016.
  14. Web site: Slater. Cameron. Onya, Mark Unsworth. Onya. Whale Oil. 18 March 2016.
  15. Web site: Slater. Cameron. The New York Times on shit in our rivers, CTD. Whale Oil. 18 March 2016.
  16. News: PM dismisses '100% Pure' criticism. 26 November 2012. New Zealand Herald. Davison. Isaac. 18 March 2016.
  17. Web site: Ecology in Action Award. New Zealand Ecological Society. 10 August 2010 . 18 March 2016.
  18. Web site: Forest & Bird honours ecologist. Forest & Bird. 17 March 2016.
  19. Web site: Recipients of the Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement. Royal Society of New Zealand. 28 Jan 2018.
  20. Web site: Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement. Royal Society of New Zealand. 18 March 2016.
  21. Web site: 2014 Charles Fleming Lecture Tour. Royal Society of New Zealand.