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.

  • Identification of significant ecological areas for the Otago coastal marine area

    News article
    Long-term protection of Otago’s coastal habitats took a step closer to reality after more than 100 marine Significant Ecological Areas were identified.
  • (no image provided)

    South Island bathymetry chart

  • (no image provided)

    North Island Bathymetry Coverage Chart

  • Ocean waves

    Oceans FAQ

    Education Resource
    A collection of answers to commonly-asked questions relating to our oceans work, including 'What is a mass spectrometer?' and 'What is ocean acidification?'
  • Crustacean celebrities of Aotearoa on display at Te Papa

    Media release
    Crabs, shrimps, lobsters, barnacles, slaters and other crustaceans are the stars of a new mini exhibition presented by NIWA and Te Papa.
  • NIWA discovers over two dozen new marine species in Wellington inlet

    Media release
    Researchers have discovered 26 species of roundworms that are completely new to science.
  • (no image provided)

    NIWA undertakes post-Gabrielle seabed mapping in Hawkes Bay

    Media release
    NIWA scientists will be in Hawkes Bay this week to map the seabed to measure the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle
  • NZ “ballerina sponge” in top 10 new species list

    Media release
    A fossilised sponge from New Zealand has been named as one of the top 10 new marine species of 2022.
  • Online atlas provides understanding of marine life and habitats

    Media release
    Researchers have developed New Zealand’s most comprehensive online atlas, providing an overview of nearly 600 marine species.
  • Record low sea ice levels mixed bag for Antarctic voyage

    Media release
    Scientists from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) have returned from a six-week voyage to Antarctica.
  • Research aims to quantify New Zealand’s Blue Carbon capacity of kelp seaweeds

    Media release
    A research project co-led by Blue Carbon Services and NIWA will aim to provide New Zealand’s first national estimate of natural kelp-carbon sequestration in the marine environment.
  • TAN2302 voyage update - 10 February 2023

    We have now visited 23 separate sites in these coastal areas, albeit some of them very close together. Every time we visit a new site, we first need to map the seafloor as we are working in unchartered coastal waters.