Bella Muir

Little marine invertebrates are what sparked Bella Muir’s curiosity of the ocean and what evolved into a lifelong passion.

Growing up in the small coastal town of Tairua, Bella has always been drawn to the ocean. As a child, she loved snorkeling – until encounters with “little jellies” drifting through the water would send her rushing back to shore.

Curious to understand what she was seeing, Bella soon discovered they were completely harmless – just salps, barrel-shaped marine invertebrates that float in the water during summer.

“In that moment, I knew I wanted to become a marine biologist – not just to learn about the ocean, but to share it,” Bella says.

“How do we expect people to care about something if they don’t understand it?”

That early curiosity has since evolved into a clear ambition: to combine science with storytelling. Bella hopes to create documentaries, inspired by organisations such as National Geographic, using her passion for photography and videography to bring the ocean to life for others.

I want to help people see what’s beneath the surface and tell the stories of the incredible research that’s happening.

Bella enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science at the University of Waikato in Tauranga, transferring into her final year after completing two years at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.

She says the pathway allowed her to build strong practical skills before moving into more advanced academic and lab-based learning.

Backed with a Bruce Longmore Scholarship, and later awarded a Summer Research Scholarship in Oceanography, Bella found the transition to Waikato seamless.

“The teaching styles felt similar, the support was amazing, and the small class sizes made it easy to get to know both my classmates and lecturers on a personal level."

What I’ve valued most is the sense of community. The lecturers genuinely care – not just about what they teach, but about you as a person. At Waikato, you’re never just a number.

Her Capstone Project (SCIEN301) was a standout experience, giving her the opportunity to take part in hands-on fieldwork including working on boats, deploying instruments, and engaging directly with marine environments.

Bella was the recipient of Surf Lifesaving New Zealand’s Instructor of the Year (Coromandel) as well as Coromandel’s Under-19 Lifeguard of the Year. She also earned a Freemasons University Scholarship for her commitment to community involvement and leadership.

At school she was Head Girl and Dux at Whangamata Area School, achieved the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and was recognised as a GirlBoss Edge Primary Industries Challenge winner – a leadership programme for environmentally minded high school students.