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

Shallow-water Flabellum

Peter Marriott, NIWA

From this photo, you can see the vulnerable, bright-coloured polyps protected within the calcareous, partitioned inner framework of the Flabellum. Imagine swapping this Flabellum with your grandmother’s false teeth to give her a good fright in the morning.