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

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Michele Melchior / ESNZ

Detector dogs trained at the University of Waikato can detect extremely small samples. After clams spend two days in water, a cotton swab is dipped into the water; the tip of the swab is then cut off and placed in the gold sampler above. This sample is subsequently hidden on a boat trailer where the dogs cannot see it.