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

Oceans

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

  • Scientists voyage into the Antarctic unknown

    Media release
    A group of intrepid scientists leaves Wellington for Antarctica this week on board NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa for what their leader calls “a voyage of discovery”.
    Ross Sea Environment and Ecosystem Voyage 2019
  • Can a leopard seal change its spots?

    Feature story
    A leopard seal, who has made the balmy waters around Auckland home, is prompting a NIWA scientist to campaign for her to be made a New Zealand citizen.
  • Ross Sea Environment and Ecosystem Voyage 2019

    Research Project
    The Ross Sea region is vital to the future of the Antarctic ecosystem.
  • Seal-mounted cameras give scientists a glimpse of life under the ice

    A NIWA-led team of marine ecologists are using seal-mounted cameras to get a first-hand view into the behaviour and movements of Weddell seals under the Antarctic ice.
  • Seal-mounted cameras give scientists a glimpse of life under the ice

    Feature story
    A NIWA-led team of marine ecologists are using seal-mounted cameras to get a first-hand view into the behaviour and movements of Weddell seals under the Antarctic ice.
  • Questions and Answers about Salps #3

  • NIWA Blake Ambassadors Vlog 3: It's bongo time!

    18 Nov 2018. NIWA Blake Ambassador—Lana Young—explains how bongo nets are deployed to collect plankton around the clock on board the RV Tangaroa.
  • Voyage Update 7: Bongo-Bongo – and we hit 100!

    16 November 2018. By Voyage Leader Dr Moira Decima.
  • Voyage Update 6: Thetys vagina – Giant of the salps and colossal pooper

    13 November 2018. By Voyage Leader Dr Moira Decima.
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    2018 - Ocean-column imaging voyage

    Voyage
    The aim of the voyage was to enhance our capability to acoustically detect and characterise liquid and gaseous targets in the water column.
  • Voyage Update 5: Salp parasites and micropredators

    10 November 2018. By Voyage Leader Dr Moira Decima.
  • Voyage Update 4: Phytoplankton–the base of the food chain!

    8 November 2018. By Voyage Leader Dr Moira Decima.