Benthic habitats

Latest news

Anchors cause “extensive, persistent” damage to seafloor

Media Release

12 May 2022

High-resolution mapping has produced the first ever global estimates of coastal habitat damage caused by anchoring.

Survey provides snapshot of harbour’s health

10 May 2022

Greater Wellington Regional Council regularly assess sediment quality and seafloor community health in the subtidal areas of Te Awarua-o-Porirua (Porirua Harbour) and Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour).

Tubeworm discovery in Hauraki Gulf cause for celebration

Media Release

19 March 2020

Scientists mapping the Hauraki Gulf seafloor have discovered huge colonies of tubeworms up to 1.5 metres high and collectively covering hundreds of metres providing vital habitats for plants and animals.

New discoveries on Marlborough seafloor

Media Release

28 August 2018

The findings of the most complex underwater coastal survey of the seafloor undertaken in New Zealand, including previously undiscovered natural features and sunken boats, are to be formally presented to the Marlborough community tomorrow.

Our work

Restoration of seagrass beds in Whangarei Harbour

Seagrass beds form an important undersea habitat for small fish, seahorses and shellfish in New Zealand.

Kaikoura Canyon survey

New Zealand's Kaikoura Canyon is a 'biodiversity hotspot', containing far more life than seen before at such depths.

Geomorphology influences periphyton abundance

This research project investigated whether the mechanisms for periphyton removal in rivers relate more directly to hydraulic and geomorphic conditions than flow metrics.

Latest videos

The science behind sediment cores

How do humans impact shallow marine environments?

Ashley Rowden and Katie Bigham - Marine ecologists

Ashley Rowden and Katie Bigham talk about the positive changes observed on the seafloor following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.

Wire deployed corer floats being retrieved

Wire deployed corer floats being retrieved on board the RV Tangaroa. The corer sampled sediments at 9994 metre depths in the Kermadec Trench.

ST47 9990m landing

Wire deployed corer landing at 9994 metre depth in the Kermadec Trench. Deployment and retrieval on board the RV Tangaroa.

Anchors cause “extensive, persistent” damage to seafloor

Media Release

12 May 2022

High-resolution mapping has produced the first ever global estimates of coastal habitat damage caused by anchoring.

Survey provides snapshot of harbour’s health

10 May 2022

2020 - Seamount Communities

Seamounts, knolls, and hills are prominent features of underwater topography in the New Zealand region and are often sites of high biodiversity and productivity.

2020 - Deep Sea Benthos

Sedimentation effects from human activities are poorly known, but an important concern for environmental sustainability of activities in the deep sea.

The science behind sediment cores

How do humans impact shallow marine environments?

Ashley Rowden and Katie Bigham - Marine ecologists

Ashley Rowden and Katie Bigham talk about the positive changes observed on the seafloor following the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake.

2020 - Separation Point nursery

NIWA researchers are heading out from Tasman early next week to survey an area thought to be home to important juvenile fish nurseries.

June 3, 2020 - Playing the guitar at sea

Mark Fenwick is playing a few tunes from the Pukaki Rise, in 667m of water, with 23 knots of wind and 3 meter swells.

June 5, 2020 - What can go wrong?

Steve George knows that any time you put electronics in the water, there is a chance that something will go wrong!

June 2, 2020 - The watch leader

Arne Pallentin is fascinated by the seafloor and how little we still know about it.

Tangaroa heads back to sea

NIWA’s flagship research vessel Tangaroa sailed out of Wellington Harbour on May 17 for the first scientific voyage since lockdown.

Bioactive bryozoan

A collaboration between researchers has revealed the bioactive health potential of a marine bryozoan.

May 22, 2020 - Benthic data collection

Niki Davey, benthic data and specimens specialist talks about her work and life onboard RV Tangaroa at the moment.

May 19, 2020 - The Voyage Leader

Introducing voyage leader Owen Anderson

2020 - Campbell Plateau biodiversity

Heading to the Campbell Plateau south of New Zealand, 25 scientists and crew onboard R.V. Tangaroa will carry out a deep sea camera survey of the seabed to better understand the biodiversity of seabed habitats in commercial fishing areas.

Tubeworm discovery in Hauraki Gulf cause for celebration

Media Release

19 March 2020

Voyage Update 5: sampling rattails and exploring vulnerable coral habitats in the MPA

3 February 2019. By Voyage Leader Dr Richard O'Driscoll.

Voyage Update 3: Phytoplankton producers powering the world

23 January 2019. By Voyage Leader Dr Richard O'Driscoll.

Research and Monitoring

The Ross Sea Region Research and Monitoring Programme (Ross-RAMP) is a five-year research programme funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and run by NIWA to evaluate the effectiveness of the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area.

New discoveries on Marlborough seafloor

Media Release

28 August 2018

NIWA undertakes an ambitious, complex seabed experiment

Media Release

7 May 2018

One of the most challenging scientific underwater experiments ever attempted by NIWA is taking place this month on the Chatham Rise.

2018 - Chatham Rise seabed

The R V Tangaroa headed to the Chatham Rise from 9 May to 7 June 2018 to measure and monitor the effects of seabed disturbance on sealife.

Blog: The inhabitants of the twilight zone of the open-ocean - 15 March

15 March 2018

Think about a futuristic world where at night time, people use different kind of self-propelled vehicles to hover across cities, illuminating the skies with different colours and shapes, while transiting around them.

Scientists explore deepest parts of the Kermadec Trench

Media Release

18 December 2017

Scientists exploring the Kermadec Trench believe they have retrieved the deepest ever sediment sample from the bottom of the ocean using a wire-deployed corer.

Wire deployed corer floats being retrieved

Wire deployed corer floats being retrieved on board the RV Tangaroa. The corer sampled sediments at 9994 metre depths in the Kermadec Trench.

Benthic habitats

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