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

Steve Lepper walking next to anaerobic digestor pond

Taranaki pig farmer and biogas pioneer Steve Lepper. This anaerobic digester pond produces some 200m³ of biogas a day. Scrubbed, compressed, and pumped to a generator, it now provides roughly half the piggery’s daily electricity needs. Credit: Geoff Osborne