Coasts

NIWA aims to provide the knowledge needed for the sound environmental management of our marine resources.

  • Mussel farms may benefit the environment

    Media release
    A new study is doing a deep dive into whether mussel farms could help reduce nitrogen in New Zealand waters.
  • Identification of significant ecological areas for the Otago coastal marine area

    News article
    Long-term protection of Otago’s coastal habitats took a step closer to reality after more than 100 marine Significant Ecological Areas were identified.
  • New maps reveal places at risk from sea-level rise

    Media release
    New maps from NIWA and the Deep South National Science Challenge show areas across Aotearoa New Zealand that could be inundated by extreme coastal flooding.
  • NIWA discovers over two dozen new marine species in Wellington inlet

    Media release
    Researchers have discovered 26 species of roundworms that are completely new to science.
  • Online atlas provides understanding of marine life and habitats

    Media release
    Researchers have developed New Zealand’s most comprehensive online atlas, providing an overview of nearly 600 marine species.
  • Mangrove on Athenree Estuary

    Preparing coastal communities for change

    News article
    Our coastline is changing as sea levels rise. Lawrence Gullery looks at a five-year research programme designed to help communities with tough decisions ahead.
  • Colonial ascidians (grapes), crinoids (feather stars) and primnoid corals (orange) make up part of the Ross Sea ecosystem

    Biological traits

    Software Tool/Resource
    Based on the characteristics of individual organisms, Biological traits analysis is also a powerful way to measure ecosystem health and vulnerability to human activities.
  • Research aims to quantify New Zealand’s Blue Carbon capacity of kelp seaweeds

    Media release
    A research project co-led by Blue Carbon Services and NIWA will aim to provide New Zealand’s first national estimate of natural kelp-carbon sequestration in the marine environment.
  • NZTD - The New Zealand Trait Database for marine benthic invertebrates

    Software Tool/Resource
    Traits are defined as the components of organisms that can be measured and have an effect on ecosystem functioning. Examples of traits include the behaviour, life history, morphology, and physiology characteristics
  • New technology gives sea safety hopes

    Media release
    Beachgoers could be safer thanks to a new technology with the potential to give real-time updates of rip currents.
  • Reducing the impact on Hawke’s Bay’s marine environment

    News article
    A study investigating the level of change needed to improve the state of Hawke’s Bay’s marine environment highlights the magnitude and frequency of interventions required for the seafloor ecosystem to recover.
  • eDNA samples

    eDNA research and services

    Service
    NIWA is active in a broad range of eDNA topics and can provide expert advice on applications and expected outcomes.