Oceans

NIWA aims to provide the knowledge needed for the sound environmental management of our marine resources.

  • The thing

    Clever sleuthing unmasks mystery ocean creature

    Media release
    A mystery specimen has been identified as a species never documented in New Zealand waters.
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    NIWA Water Quality Laboratory

    Facility
    Specialists in the chemical analysis of rivers, lakes, oceans and streams
  • New Ghost Shark

    New species of NZ ghost shark discovered

    Media release
    Scientists have found a new ghost shark that lives exclusively in the deep waters of Australia and New Zealand. 
  • Tagging sharks in Fiordland 2

    Tagging Fiordland sharks to monitor climate change

    Media release
    Tracking changes in broadnose sevengill sharks' behaviour in a warming climate.
  • Lake Wanaka - multibeam

    Lake Wānaka mapped in exquisite detail

    Media release
    NIWA scientists have mapped the whole of Lake Wānaka in incredible detail.  
  • New ocean species discovered in Bounty Trough

    Media release
    Scientists on an expedition to the underexplored Bounty Trough off New Zealand have discovered around 100 new and potentially new ocean species.
  • Bounty Trough - voyage update #3

    The third and final update from Voyage leader, Sadie Mills on the 21-day Ocean Census – Bounty Trough research voyage.
  • Bounty Trough - voyage update #2

    Greetings from the Bounty Trough!
  • Bounty Trough - voyage update #1

    NIWA Voyage Leader, Sadie Mills on the first three days of The Ocean Census – Bounty Trough research voyage - a 21-day expedition to discover new species
  • Expedition to uncover secrets of New Zealand's unexplored Bounty Trough

    Media release
    An expedition to discover new species in one of the most remote parts of the deep ocean is departing from Wellington today. 
  • Sun, sand, and stingers

    Feature story
    Long hot days, sand between your toes, and jellyfish – all part of the New Zealand beach summer.
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    NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 136 - The Marine Biota of Aotearoa New Zealand

    Aotearoa New Zealand’s marine biodiversity checklist has been updated, representing an increase of 3,630 known living species since the turn of the century.