NIWA

Oceans

Recording old oceans centre tag.

Latest news

Giant squid and glow-in-the-dark sharks surprise scientists

17 February 2020

A giant squid and several glow-in-the-dark sharks were surprise finds for NIWA scientists last month on the Chatham Rise during a voyage to survey hoki, New Zealand’s most valuable commercial fish species.

Scientist pieces together details of underwater landslides

Media Release

28 November 2019

New information about landslides that occur on the seafloor off New Zealand’s east coast will help scientists better understand why and where they happen, and the types of threats they pose.

Planning an ocean observation network

Media Release

3 October 2019

New Zealand’s changing ocean environment has prompted the call to develop a system that will keep closer tabs on information from scientific monitoring buoys so the data they produce can be shared as widely as possible.

Methane seep research bubbling along

Media Release

10 September 2019

A chance discovery off the Gisborne coast five years ago is prompting a NIWA scientist to find out more about the link between a field of methane seeps bubbling out of the sea floor and submarine landslides.

Our work

Plankton biodiversity in the Southern Ocean

NIWA is conducting a five–year study to map changes in the distribution of plankton species in surface waters between New Zealand and the Ross Sea.

New Zealand Ocean Acidification Observing Network (NZOA-ON)

Ocean acidification conditions around the New Zealand coast are being measured to establish baseline conditions and to quantify future change.

Effects of ocean acidification on plankton in New Zealand waters

Our oceans are expected to become more acidic as carbon dioxide concentrations rise. This will likely have impacts on the plankton, which play a major role in ocean ecosystems and processes.

White sharks

Where and when do white sharks occur in New Zealand waters, and how can fisheries bycatch be reduced?

Latest videos

Ocean acidification - What does it mean for Shellfish?

This video has been produced to highlight ocean acidification as a potential issue affecting the NZ shellfish aquaculture industry

Echo, Echo: Scanning the Seafloor on R.V. Tangaroa

NIWA ocean geologist Dr Joshu Mountjoy explains how the R.V. Tangaroa's multibeam system is used for bathymetric (seabed) mapping, and some of the benefits which come out of this mapping.

Seabed Frontier: A Brief History of Bathymetry

NIWA marine geologist John Mitchell gives a brief history of bathymetric (seabed) charting, and how it's been carried out over the last few hundred years. (01:18)

Big Fish, Calm Sea - White Shark Tagging off Stewart Island

Tagging White Sharks off Stewart Island, NZ Scientists from DOC, NIWA, and the University of Auckland are building a unique picture of New Zealand's great white shark population.

Robot returns from the icy depths

8 April 2011

NIWA Oceanographer Dr Craig Stevens has returned, with stunning images and data, from a successful month-long research trip in Antarctica, where he led a team of international and New Zealand scientists.

Kaikoura Canyon survey

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

Compact weather station - NIWA Tier2

A low-cost weather station for gathering accurate weather data. Wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure and rainfall data can be accessed from a server, via the internet.

Smart Rain Intensity Gauge - NIWA SRIG

This measures rain by the drop as well as by the tradional 'tip'. We can configure it either with an SDI12 serial data interface or an integral logger with cellular communications.

Salinity Buoy - NIWA SB1

A self-contained telemetered inshore buoy capable of being equipped with a wide range of marine sensors.

NIWA Scientists set to survey Pegasus Bay with seismic equipment

16 March 2011

NIWA’s research vessel Kaharoa set sail from Wellington today, destined for Lyttelton and equipped with seismic survey gear to survey an area of southern Pegasus Bay.

Cook Strait Canyon starts to spill its secrets

14 March 2011

Preliminary results from the first comprehensive survey of the Cook Strait Canyon seabed have begun to reveal tantalising scientific secrets about New Zealand's largest underwater canyon.

Scientists set to delve into the secrets of the Cook Strait mega-canyon

11 February 2011

Targeted geological sampling and imaging by NIWA scientists next week will help understand active seabed processes in one of New Zealand's largest seafloor features.

New Year survey marks 20th anniversary of Chatham Rise fish surveys

31 December 2010

On New Year's Day, NIWA's research vessel Tangaroa departs for its first voyage, since its recent $20 million dollar upgrade, making its twentieth consecutive trip to the Chatham Rise to study the abundance of important fish species.

Extreme Weather 2011

9 February 2011 to 11 February 2011

The conference will be held in Wellington, NZ and include six special sessions each with a keynote address:
Extreme weather in the Australasian region – from floods to droughts
Impact and meteorology of the main climate drivers (ENSO, SAM, Monsoon)
Using high resolution models to understand local meteorology
Oceanography of the Australasian region
Climate change in the Australasian region
Impacts of natural catastrophes in the Australasian region
However papers on any topic related to the Atmospheric Sciences (including composition) and Oceanography of the Australasian region will be co

New Zealand bathymetry - Further information

Technical information about our datasets and methodology along with related resources.

Download Bathymetry Data

NIWA provides free New Zealand Region bathymetric datasets and images.

High Performance Computing Facility

The High Performance Computing Facility (HPCF) is supercharging New Zealand science—powering scientists working at the forefront of New Zealand’s greatest science challenges.

New Zealand Marine Sciences Society 50th Anniversary Conference

6 July 2010 to 9 July 2010

Bay of Islands Ocean Survey 20/20 project completed

8 July 2010

A two‑year ocean and coastal survey project in the Bay of Islands is now complete, Land Information New Zealand announced today.

Scientists investigate ocean floor minerals

Media Release

5 May 2010

NIWA’s research vessel Tangaroa will set sail next week to explore the minerals potential of deep-sea volcanoes of the Kermadec Arc, 200 km north-east of Auckland