Freshwater & Estuary Macroinvertebrate Sample Processing

The sampling and monitoring of macroinvertebrates forms a significant component of environmental reporting in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s relied on for State of the Environment (SOE) reporting, consent applications, surveys & investigations, research, and long-term monitoring. The data underpins regulatory decisions, informs policy, and shapes how communities understand the health of their waterways.

But macroinvertebrate data is only as reliable as the laboratory that processes it. Every biotic index, every MCI score, every SOE trend line ultimately rests on whether someone correctly sorted, identified, and counted what was in the sample. If these steps are compromised, everything downstream is affected: reporting, planning, consenting, and policy.

• Purpose-built laboratory (in 2007 & again in 2023) – designed with detailed input from our processing team on lighting, bench layout, ergonomics, and ventilation. Five workstations with Nikon SMZ18 high-magnification dissecting microscopes. Positive-pressure environment with ten volume changes per hour (300 L/s fresh air), substantially exceeding health and safety requirements.
• Dangerous goods storage vault (2,200 L capacity) – custom-built, Location Compliance Certified for flammable substances. Allows us to accept samples for storage prior to processing and retain them post-processing for up to 12 months, removing the need for clients to manage hazardous sample storage.
• Rigorous internal QC – minimum 5% of samples for senior processors, 10% for intermediate, and up to 100% for junior processors. Our unfailing commitment to quality assurance means the standards we hold ourselves to exceed all of the NEMS pass thresholds for external QC: we expect % Taxonomic Disagreement ≤ 5 (NEMS pass: <10), % Missed Individuals ≤ 5 (NEMS pass: <10), % Missed Taxa ≤ 10 (NEMS pass: <20).
• External QC track record – passed every external quality control audit commissioned by our council clients. As of June 2026, our most recent result was % Taxonomic Disagreement 0.4, % Missed Individuals 3.0, % Missed Taxa 3.0 – well above the required standard.
• NEMS expertise – not only were we a member of the Laboratory Experts Advisory panel to Ministry for the Environment during preparation of the NEMS Macroinvertebrates (2022) standard, but we wrote the NEMS processing protocols. We have assisted multiple councils in transitioning from Stark et al. (2001) protocols to NEMS, including advice on collection methods, preservation, and quality coding of historic data.
• Chain of custody and sample tracking – digital sample schedule from receipt to disposal, with multiple verification checkpoints linking processing data to correct sample IDs and client metadata. Internal vial labelling, condition recording, and waterproof component labels ensure traceability throughout.
• Master Taxa List integration – detailed taxonomic information feeds directly into data files, ensuring consistent nomenclature and correct classifications. Senior taxonomists regularly update the list with newly published revisions.
• Extensive reference collection – physical specimens and digital images maintained by senior taxonomists, supplemented by published and our own bespoke identification keys. A training lead ensures the team works from the latest taxonomic information at all times.
• Flexible data delivery – standard templates developed in collaboration with clients over many years, with the ability to adapt to bespoke formats for eco-database input. FME-based automated data transformation and delivery capability available for clients seeking streamlined workflows.