Coasts

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

  • A robot sea craft helps count fish

    A six-metre-long autonomous vessel is equipped with artificial intelligence and a range of data gathering equipment, including a battery powered echosounder that can estimate the size of fish populations.
  • Cutting-edge AI sea craft helping scientists count fish

    Media release
    A robot sea craft is the latest tool NIWA scientists are using to help them count fish.
  • Mapping the oceans through citizen science

    The Seabed 2030 South and West Pacific Ocean Data Center is one of four global Regional Centres, each being responsible for data gathering and mapping in their territory.
  • Public asked to help build national flood photo database

    Media release
    NIWA is asking people in flood-affected areas to contribute photos to a national database to support understanding of flood hazard and flood risk.
  • Seabed 2030

    Did you know NIWA is leading a NZ partnership in a worldwide initiative to map the entire globe’s seafloor? Found out more about the Seabed 2030 initiative.
  • Surveying scallop populations with artificial intelligence

    News article
    Developing a non-invasive automated method of counting and measuring scallops to monitor their populations.
  • Juvenile fish nurseries in the Hauraki Gulf

    News article
    Some fish species take years to grow to a size where they become sexually mature. These juvenile years, especially the first few months, are when fish are the most vulnerable to being eaten by predators.
  • How we won the 36th America’s Cup

    News article
    Emirates Team New Zealand is known for their outstanding achievements on the world yacht racing stage and their drive for excellence in technical innovation. So how does a supercomputer become part of the team?
  • Our seas are sizzling again

    Media release
    Coastal sea temperatures around Aotearoa New Zealand have risen well above average, NIWA forecasters say.
  • Dramatic first weeks for Wellington’s newly hatched kororā

    Media release
    Two kororā chicks – also known as little blue penguins – have hatched in Wellington. They were born in a protective nest box in Evan’s Bay, set up by NIWA and Places for Penguins, in partnership with the Urban Wildlife Trust.
  • Coastal flooding likely to be main driver for adaptation

    Media release
    New NIWA-led research shows increasing flood risk is going to be what leads people to make changes to adapt to sea-level rise.
  • Fabulous Fiordland showcased in new e-Guide

    Media release
    With cascading waterfalls and native bush tumbling down mountainous terrain, Fiordland is one of the most eye-catching parts of the country. But peer beneath the waves and you'll see that Fiordland's marine invertebrate and seaweed communities are every bit as remarkable and awe-inspiring.