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

Geological hazards

NIWA studies marine geological hazards, including earthquakes, submarine landslides and tsunami, volcanic eruptions, seafloor scour, sediment transport and shallow gas.
Tonga eruption and tsunami shock the world - Vimeo
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The Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai (HT-HH) volcano was like a massive shotgun blast from the deep, generating the biggest atmospheric explosion recorded on Earth in more than 100 years. Funded by The Nippon Foundation, NIWA and SEA-KIT surveyed over 22,000km2 surrounding the volcano, including mapping 14,000km2 of previously unmapped seafloor as part of The Nippon Foundation GEBCO Seabed 2030 project.

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