Seabed mapping

NIWA's expertise and capabilities are world-leading in both local and global seafloor mapping to enhance understanding and management.

  • Tropical seafloor secrets revealed

    Media release
    NIWA scientists and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) have used satellite technology to chart the Cook Islands’ seafloor in never-before-seen detail. The work was done as part of Seabed 2030 - a collaborative project to produce a definitive map of the world ocean floor by 2030.
  • Mapping the oceans through citizen science

    The Seabed 2030 South and West Pacific Ocean Data Center is one of four global Regional Centres, each being responsible for data gathering and mapping in their territory.
  • Seabed 2030

    Did you know NIWA is leading a NZ partnership in a worldwide initiative to map the entire globe’s seafloor? Found out more about the Seabed 2030 initiative.
  • Norse goddess reveals seabed secrets

    Feature story
    A large, orange Scandinavian robot gives NIWA’s marine geologists an in-depth look at changes to the seafloor off Kaikōura.
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    2020 - Separation Point nursery

    Voyage
    NIWA researchers are heading out from Tasman early next week to survey an area thought to be home to important juvenile fish nurseries.
  • Researchers on hunt for fish nurseries

    Media release
    NIWA researchers are heading out from Tasman early next week to survey an area thought to be home to important juvenile fish nurseries.
  • NIWA mapping seafloor around Whakaari/White Island

    Media release
    NIWA scientists are heading to the waters around Whakaari/White Island in the Bay of Plenty next week to survey changes to the seafloor.
  • Benthic fauna on the Campbell Plateau

    2020 - Campbell Plateau biodiversity

    A team of scientists and crew headed to the Campbell Plateau south of New Zealand onboard R.V. Tangaroa to conduct a deep-sea camera survey of the seabed to better understand the biodiversity of seabed habitats in commercial fishing areas.
  • Scientist pieces together details of underwater landslides

    Media release
    New information about landslides that occur on the seafloor off New Zealand’s east coast will help scientists better understand why and where they happen, and the types of threats they pose.
  • Sedimentation effects

    Research Project
    A combination of field surveys and on-site observations are being used along with laboratory-based experiments to determine the effects of seabed disturbance on benthic life.
  • Handwritten files provide sediment treasure chest

    Media release
    A NIWA scientist who spent years poring over handwritten scientific notes stored in about 50 large wooden drawers, has seen the fruits of her labour now being used in ways she never imagined.
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    New Zealand bathymetry - Further information

    Technical information about our datasets and methodology along with related resources.