While back in New Zealand for a short visit, I caught up with the 2009 Australasia Our World-Underwater Rolex Scholar, Matt Carter. During his year, Matt followed his interests in underwater archaeology. He recently handed in his Masters Thesis on the maritime cultural landscape of Otago Harbour. This involved looking at all of the archaeological sites around the harbour and investigating what activities they represented e.g. fishing and shellfishing, shipbuilding, shipwrecks, and defence and how these activities have affected the harbour over the 750 years people have lived there.

Matt is now working for the Christchurch based company, Underground Overground Archaeology Ltd. After the recent Christchurch earthquakes, many historic buildings have been deemed unsafe and are in the process of being demolished. With this, a team of archaeologist document the demolitions and investigate the foundations of these buildings within the “red-zone”. The job is an amazing opportunity to gain experience in the archaeology field in New Zealand and Matt is working alongside Andy Dodd from the New Zealand’s only other maritime archaeologist.

Later this year Matt is presenting his Our World-Underwater scholarship year at the Oceania Dive and Ecotourism Expo (ODEX) in Queensland, Australia. The conference runs from 07 – 09 October and includes product showcases and demonstrations and seminars and is joined this year with the Blue Edge, an international free diving and spear fishing symposium and the Fifth Underwater Festival.

Matt has also been invited to talk at the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Underwater Archaeology in Manila on the 8th – 12th November 2011. His presentation is on the state of underwater archaeology in New Zealand and opportunities in the area for the future. Matt is also a session organizer and on the scientific committee for the conference.

It was great to catch up with Matt and see his continued passion for underwater archaeology and success after his Our World Underwater Scholarship year.