Energy - Research Projects

To inform their forthcoming Strategic Plan, Te Wai Māori Trust commissioned a review of our current understanding of freshwater taonga species (biology, ecology, management, monitoring and research needs) including tuna, piharau/kanakana, kōura/kēwai, whitebait, porohe, kanae, pātiki mohoao, and kākahi/kāeo. This is the first time such a stocktake has been undertaken since the publication of Dr Bob McDowall's New Zealand Freshwater Fishes – a guide and natural history in 1978.

Rilke de Vos, Warrath Piggeries, Lepper Trust, Pork Industry Board
NIWA worked with the community on the island of Totoya, in the Yasayasa Moala Island group in south-east Fiji to assess their energy security and energy related socio-economic opportunities.
Understanding the complexity of tidal resources in New Zealand’s coastal waters and examining how extracting tidal energy would influence and be influenced by this variability.

This project will demonstrate the commercial feasibility of producing bio-oil by the conversion of algae biomass that has been grown in wastewater treatment facilities. In particular we aim to maximise algae production in High Rate Algal Ponds (HRAP) by adding carbon dioxide, and demonstrate energy efficient conversion of algal biomass to bio-oil.

This two-year Waikato River Authority funded collaborative project between Horahora and Te Poho o Tanikena Marae, Waikato Raupatu River and Land Trusts and NIWA will install constructed wetlands at two Waikato-Tainui marae to improve wastewater management. These marae-scale integrated constructed wetland systems will provide a showcase for this low cost eco-technology, and ultimately contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.