Biosecurity

Latest news

Come jump in a lake with NIWA

Media Release
5 June 2019
Visitors to NIWA’s stand at this year’s Fieldays are invited to go diving into the Rotorua lakes—without having to get wet.

New brains sought to get rid of marine pests

Media Release
27 March 2018
Scientists have launched a worldwide crowdsourcing competition aimed at finding novel ideas to tackle invasive marine pests, with a cash prize of $US10,000 on offer.

Summer Series 2017 - Look out for these marine pests

Feature story
28 December 2017
Every year NIWA carries out numerous marine surveillance missions, surveys at ports and harbours around the country. Their divers are looking for the pests that have hitched a ride to New Zealand waters and are capable of destroying our unique ecosystems and shellfish industry.

Summer Series 7: Little squirts that hang out around the coast

12 February 2013

When you are at the beach or harbours this summer, don't be surprised if you see sea squirts - marine animals we commonly see attached to rocks and wharf piles that have two siphons on the top of their bodies, one to draw in water and the other to expel it. When disturbed, sea squirts contract their siphons, expelling streams of water—hence their name.

 

Our work

The impact of non-native marine pests on our takutai moana

This project seeks to understand and better implement a Māori perspective within the current marine biosecurity system in New Zealand.

Aquatic weed risk assessment model (AWRAM)

A significant threat to the biosecurity of New Zealand's freshwater habitats comes from plants that have been intentionally introduced.

Weed Management

Of the more than 70 aquatic plant species naturalised in New Zealand, more than 75% have become problem weeds or have been assessed as having the potential to become future problem weeds. Most of our lakes, rivers and streams are affected by at least one of these species.

Coastal and oceanic dispersal modelling

Understanding how material released into the ocean spreads is very important in the case of oil spills, sediment transport and the release of invasive species. 

 

Latest videos

Diving deep to check up on our lakes

Rotorua Te Arawa lakes

NIWA scientists jump overboard to check out the health the Rotorua Te Arawa lakes. The work is part of NIWA's national LakeSPI programme—an ecological health check for lakes throughout New Zealand. 
Underwater research to protect and maintain New Zealand's freshwater resources.

Robotic vehicle on the lookout for biosecurity pests

Robotic vehicle on the lookout for biosecurity pests

Foreign marine pests can threaten our marine life and it’s important to find them early before they can set up home here.
 

Check Clean Dry actions

The Check Clean Dry Campaign aims to stop the spread of freshwater pests by encouraging people going through more than one waterway to check, clean and dry their gear in between.

Eyes in the land

Principal Scientist Paul Champion took Kennedy Warne of New Zealand Geographic along on a monitoring survey of the precious Lake Ngatu. The dune lake is a taonga to local iwi and the freshwater biosecurity team monitor the ecological health of the local lakes in partnership with Northland Regional Council and tangata whenua.

Diquat use for submerged weeds

Diquat is a herbicide (chemical) that has been used in New Zealand for many decades for submerged (underwater) weed control and also on agricultural crops. It is registered for freshwater use in New Zealand.

Lagarosiphon be gone

An underwater invader recently brought key agencies and organisations including Land Information New Zealand, NIWA, Otago Regional Council, Boffa Miskell, Department of Conservation, Ministry for Primary Industries, Fish and Game and Lake Guardians, together in Wanaka.

Weed Management

Of the more than 70 aquatic plant species naturalised in New Zealand, more than 75% have become problem weeds or have been assessed as having the potential to become future problem weeds. Most of our lakes, rivers and streams are affected by at least one of these species.
Diving deep to check up on our lakes

Rotorua Te Arawa lakes

NIWA scientists jump overboard to check out the health the Rotorua Te Arawa lakes. The work is part of NIWA's national LakeSPI programme—an ecological health check for lakes throughout New Zealand. 
Underwater research to protect and maintain New Zealand's freshwater resources.

Freshwater Update 81, June 2019

Freshwater Update 81 brings you the latest information from our Freshwater & Estuaries Centre, with articles ranging from how NIWA scientists are solving the longfin eel migration mystery, how we're taking you diving with us at Fieldays, and a word from one of the editors of the new Lakes Restoration Handbook.

Come jump in a lake with NIWA

Media Release
5 June 2019
Visitors to NIWA’s stand at this year’s Fieldays are invited to go diving into the Rotorua lakes—without having to get wet.
Robotic vehicle on the lookout for biosecurity pests

Robotic vehicle on the lookout for biosecurity pests

Foreign marine pests can threaten our marine life and it’s important to find them early before they can set up home here.

ROV (remote operated vehicle) for marine biosecurity surveillance

Hazardous and murky conditions in our ports and marinas can make it challenging for divers to carry out important biosecurity inspections for introduced pest species. NIWA scientists are pioneering the use of underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) technology to improve surveillance checks.

Freshwater Update 80, March 2019

Freshwater Update 80 brings you the latest information from our Freshwater & Estuaries Centre, with articles that cross a broad spectrum of freshwater research. This edition has articles about the sources of plastics in our waterways, the discovery of long-lost lake plant species and a breakthrough in research about freshwater mussels/kākahi.

Freshwater Update 79, November 2018

Freshwater Update 79 brings you the latest information from our Freshwater & Estuaries Centre, with articles ranging from NIWA working with NASA; restoring a stream catchment in Kaikōura; looking after urban water; keeping soil and reducing sedimentation; to culling catfish.

New brains sought to get rid of marine pests

Media Release
27 March 2018
Scientists have launched a worldwide crowdsourcing competition aimed at finding novel ideas to tackle invasive marine pests, with a cash prize of $US10,000 on offer.

Summer Series 2017 - Look out for these marine pests

Feature story
28 December 2017
Every year NIWA carries out numerous marine surveillance missions, surveys at ports and harbours around the country. Their divers are looking for the pests that have hitched a ride to New Zealand waters and are capable of destroying our unique ecosystems and shellfish industry.

The impact of non-native marine pests on our takutai moana

This project seeks to understand and better implement a Māori perspective within the current marine biosecurity system in New Zealand.

The impact of non-native marine pests on our takutai moana

Our native marine life and ecosystems are vulnerable to non-native marine pests entering our coastal environments. These marine pests have been introduced to Aotearoa on boats arriving at our ports and harbours and can spread easily through ballast water and hull fouling.

Summer Series 7: Little squirts that hang out around the coast

12 February 2013

When you are at the beach or harbours this summer, don't be surprised if you see sea squirts - marine animals we commonly see attached to rocks and wharf piles that have two siphons on the top of their bodies, one to draw in water and the other to expel it. When disturbed, sea squirts contract their siphons, expelling streams of water—hence their name.

Are antifouling paints harming our sealife?

28 January 2013

NIWA has recently completed a national project for modelling the leaching of copper from antifouling paints on vessels' hulls.

Freshwater biosecurity

The goal of the Freshwater Biosecurity programme is to support the New Zealand Biosecurity Strategy by reducing the risk of new freshwater invasive species incursions and establishment, minimising the adverse impacts of established populations of these species, and developing methods for reducing or eradicating those populations.

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All staff working on this subject

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Dr Jaret Bilewitch

Molecular Biologist
Email Dr Jaret Bilewitch

Dr Samik Datta

Population Modeller
Email Dr Samik Datta

Dr Sean Handley

Marine Biologist
Email Dr Sean Handley

Dr Deborah Hofstra

Principal Scientist - Freshwater Ecology
Email Dr Deborah Hofstra

Dr Graeme Inglis

Manager - Coasts and Oceans
Email Dr Graeme Inglis

Dr Phillip Jellyman

Regional Manager - Christchurch
Email Dr Phillip Jellyman
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Dr Keith Michael

Fisheries Scientist
Email Dr Keith Michael
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Dr Rachael Peart

Marine Invertebrate Systematist
Email Dr Rachael Peart

Dr Judy Sutherland

Regional Manager - Wellington
Email Dr Judy Sutherland
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Dr Leigh Tait

Marine Ecologist
Email Dr Leigh Tait

Dr Chris Woods

Marine Ecologist
Email Dr Chris Woods

Owen Anderson

Fisheries Scientist
Email Owen Anderson
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Neil Blair

Environmental Monitoring Technician
Email Neil Blair
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Andrew Miller

Marine Ecology Technician
Email Andrew Miller
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Graeme Moss

Marine Biologist
Email Graeme Moss
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Kelly Ratana

Environmental Scientist
Email Kelly Ratana
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Karen Thompson

Principal Technician - Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology
Email Karen Thompson
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