On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Coasts

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

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    Category B - Tidal river mouths

    Elongated basins of simple shape and several to ten metres depth.
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    Category A - Coastal lakes

    Very shallow basins (several metres depth). They are often elongated and run parallel to the shore.
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    References

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    What are you eating? NZ scientists reclassify nori – the seaweed used to make sushi

    News article
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    Scientists discover freshwater flows affect polar oceanic microbes

    News article
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    First sighting of volcano responsible for undersea eruption

    News article
  • Reclassifying karengo (nori)

    Research Project
    The seaweed known colloquially as nori in Japanese - used for making sushi - or karengo in Maori has been reclassified by an international team of scientists including NIWA's Dr Wendy Nelson.
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    NIWA’s Kaharoa sets sail to deploy robots across the Pacific Ocean

    News article
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    Kiwi great whites cross the ditch to Bondi

    News article
  • Tracking river plumes

    Research Project
    River plumes form one of the primary connectors between river-estuary systems and the coastal ocean.
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    Ocean modelling

    NIWA answers a wide range of scientific questions using ocean modelling. These models can be linked to well established weather forecasting models to predict ocean temperature, sea level and the dispersal of pollution.
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    References

    This system is based on these papers.