Find the tools you need to drive your R&D and innovation projects forward.

New Zealand Biotron

The New Zealand Biotron facility is designed to conduct biocontrol, biosecurity and biotechnology research. It provides a controlled, contained environment for plant, soil and microbe research to experiment on the complete plant system above and below ground. It is the only facility of its type in the southern hemisphere. 

Researchers can use the New Zealand Biotron to control a plant’s growing environment above and below ground to study how plants and pests interact under realistic field conditions. The two-storey facility has six growth chambers on the top floor with air-conditioned rooms underneath each. These rooms have rhizotrons – encased soil samples with access portals – so experiments can be viewed, monitored or manipulated.

The Biotron is aPC2 Facility - focussed on bio-protection, climate change, and food security research. It contains: 

- 6 X Conviron BDW160 walk in growth chambers with below ground

- 2 X Wet labs

- Dedicated microscope room

Resource Details:

4 X Sanyo environmental test chambers

Contherm incubator

Contherm oven

Minus 80 freezer

Autoclave

Fume hood

Biosafety Class 2 cabinet

2 X Microscopes Olympus SZX16 with DP71 camera module

DNA Sequencing lab

DNA single gene sequencing and fragment analysis services. 

• Full DNA sequencing
• Capillary Separation
• Fragment Analysis (Genotyping/Microsatellites)
• Bacterial and fungal DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing on application

Results are normally available within 24 - 48 hours. 

Sport and Exercise Science Laboratory - Mātai Hākinakina

General health and sports-specific health testing including movement, speed, force production, muscle and body fat mass as well as arterial health, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose. This Lab can be utilised by athletes, scientists and the community. 

General Health Testing –
• Body Composition:
Understand and monitor changes in your body weight. Measures the proportion of muscle, fat and water in your body.
• Blood Pressure:
Knowing your blood pressure is crucial to understanding your risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular diseases.
• Arterial Stiffness:
Provides lifestyle tips to reach a 'young arterial age'. Great for over 40-year-olds.

Sports Testing –
• Lactate Threshold
• Maximal Oxygen Uptake
• Oxygen Utilization (Economy)
• Submaximal Aerobic Testing
• Wingate Testing
• Other Power Tests (including cycle test, vertical jump etc.)
• Skinfold testing
• Altitude Training
• Power and Force Analysis via Force Plates
• Isometric Strength Testing