Professor Jan Curry was on sabbatical in New Zealand from August to December 2002. Setting aside her usual busy schedule as the Dean for Research and Scholarship at Calvin and an Environmental Studies professor, Dr. Curry studied the views of different stakeholders in the development of a Marine Reserve on Great Barrier Island. This included interviewing people from the commercial fisheries industry, the local Department of Conservation staff, and the local Maori. Professor Curry worked at Victoria University (Wellington) in the Geography Department to learn more about natural resource management in New Zealand in general. She also traveled to a smaller island to interview local people, including the Maori.

Photos and an update were periodically sent by Professor Jan Curry while she was in New Zealand.