DoctorRichard Holdaway

As an Adjunct Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury, my research focuses on extinction biology, stable isotope analysis, and reconstructing pre‑human ecosystems to inform modern conservation and restoration strategies. My background spans neurophysiology, ornithology, and avian palaeobiology, and I have spent more than three decades studying New Zealand’s unique birdlife and its dramatic transformations following human arrival. 

Much of my work has examined the extinction of New Zealand’s terrestrial megafauna—including moa—using fossil evidence, radiocarbon data, and ancient DNA to understand how low‑density human populations drove rapid ecological change. I also direct Palaecol Research Ltd, where I continue to investigate past ecosystems, species distributions, and long‑term environmental change.

My goal is to bridge palaeoecology with contemporary conservation, ensuring that the lessons encoded in Aotearoa’s deep ecological history guide present‑day biodiversity management and restoration efforts.