Coasts

Dog Island levels

An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water formed where freshwater from the land meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean.

New Zealand’s coast is sculpted by ocean waves. Some wave conditions bring joy to surfers and beachgoers, but, at other times, waves can cause major hazards at sea or along the shore.

NIWA scientists have made the rare discovery of a days-old ghost shark during a recent survey off the east coast of the South Island.

A hot and steamy summer saw Kiwis heading down to rivers and lakes to cool off. But they weren’t the only ones enjoying the warmer weather – algae had a great time too.

In this blog series, we feature a new critter from our expansive invertebrate collection including pictures of specimens in their unique habitat. The blogs also feature news, links and fun facts that showcase New Zealand’s fascinating marine fauna.

In comparison to the vast span of geological time, the estuaries that we see today are very recent coastal features.

Inanga are the predominant species in the modern whitebait fishery.

Learn about different kinds of beachs and how they form, with diagrams and examples of each type.