NIWA

Oceans

Recording old oceans centre tag.

Latest news

Coastal flooding likely to be main driver for adaptation

12 October 2021

New NIWA-led research shows increasing flood risk is going to be what leads people to make changes to adapt to sea-level rise.

Fabulous Fiordland showcased in new e-Guide

Media Release

5 October 2021

With cascading waterfalls and native bush tumbling down mountainous terrain, Fiordland is one of the most eye-catching parts of the country. But peer beneath the waves and you'll see that Fiordland's marine invertebrate and seaweed communities are every bit as remarkable and awe-inspiring.

Scientists, iwi investigate bringing back rock oyster industry

Media Release

28 September 2021

A project is under way to determine whether Aotearoa New Zealand’s long defunct rock oyster industry can be revived.

Study discovers microplastics in New Zealand’s seabed

Media Release

16 July 2021

A pilot study carried out by NIWA and the University of Auckland has found microplastics in samples collected from the seafloor in the Marlborough Sounds.

Our work

Sea2Cloud – how marine aerosols influence the atmosphere and climate

Clouds over the ocean, and how they trap or emit radiation from the sun, are partly influenced by the biology, biogeochemistry and physics of the surface ocean below.

Marine food webs

We need information on the food web structures of our marine ecosystems in order to manage the effects on the ecosystem of fishing, aquaculture and mining, as well as understanding the potential impacts of climate variability and change on our oceans.

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.

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.

Latest videos

Plankton in the Ross Sea

Plankton are the base of the oceans food web and are vital to our survival. But as our world changes will they be able to continue to play this essential role? Join us as we follow a group of NIWA scientists investigating various aspects of this question in the ocean around Antarctica.

Antarctic science onboard NIWA’s RV Tangaroa

Examining biodiversity and ocean dynamics in the world’s largest marine protected area

Researchers are working their way through a wealth of new Antarctic marine data after RV Tangaroa successfully completed its five week scientific voyage to the Ross Sea.

NIWA's Sarah Searson and Jennie Mowatt

If you want to get accurate scientific readings from the icy depths of the Ross Sea, who do you turn to?

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

Geosciences 2011

28 November 2011 to 3 December 2011

NIWA is sponsoring Geosciences 2011, the Geoscience Society of New Zealand's annual conference.

This year's conference is being held in Nelson and will cover a broad range of geological and geophysical research being undertaken in New Zealand.

For further information see the conference website

New Climate Change Atlas for our massive ocean real estate

3 October 2011

In a world first, NIWA has designed a regional climate change ocean 'atlas' - for our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Craig Stevens on Antarctic Sea Ice

Principal Scientist Craig Stevens talks about what NIWA's sonar equipment can tell us about ocean turbulence, and what's in store for sea ice around Antarctica and the Arctic.

Antarctic Whale Expedition 2010

After a successful six weeks in the Southern Ocean, the Australian led Antarctic whale expedition is due to arrive in Wellington, New Zealand, on 15 March 2010.

Great white sharks - sighted, tagged and tracked

Scientists from DOC, NIWA, and the University of Auckland are building a unique picture of New Zealand's great white shark population.

Kaikoura Canyon Seabed Life

The video represents a number of clips that have been spliced together to illustrate the abundant life associated with the muddy seabed sediments in Kaikoura Canyon at 1000m.

Processes and interactions in the Antarctic atmosphere

The Antarctic atmosphere is physically and chemically unique and influences all latitudes. The goal of this programme is to improve our understanding of the Antarctic atmosphere's role in global change and its response to that change.

Antarctic aquatic ecosystems: summary

Polar ecosystems face physical constraints that set them apart from their warmer counterparts. The greatest constraint is the impact of prolonged periods of winter darkness and sub-zero temperatures.

Antarctic marine ecosystems

All aquatic ecosystems are strongly driven by physical processes, and nowhere is this more true than in Antarctica.

Antarctic marine ecosystems: news

Short articles and related news.

Antarctic marine ecosystems: introduction

All aquatic ecosystems are strongly driven by physical processes, and nowhere is this more true than in Antarctica.

Antarctic marine ecosystems: team

The science team includes plant and animal ecologists with expertise in a range of fields.

Record number of great white sharks tagged in New Zealand waters

7 July 2011

Scientists completed a successful three-week field tagging trip in April 2011, where they tagged a record 27 great white sharks around the Titi (Muttonbird) Islands off the northeast coast of Stewart Island.

“New Zealand urgently needs a National Oceans Strategy” – NIWA Chairman

6 July 2011

NIWA Chairman Chris Mace says New Zealand urgently needs a National Oceans Strategy, to sustainably manage and use its extensive marine resources to boost the economy.

"There is huge untapped potential in our oceans and coastal waters, and the Government has clearly indicated their intention to increase the use of these resources. Under the current global economic environment, I think that is prudent. But without an integrated oceans strategy, our ability to sustainably manage those resources will clearly be compromised."

Photo_Non_geniculate_coralline_algae_Campbell_Island_Cooper.jpg

Non-geniculate coralline algae - Campbell Island (Department of Conservation, S.Cooper)

Mapping our future, for the worlds oceans

3 June 2011

A team of international scientists, led by NIWA Oceanographer Dr Philip Boyd, departs from Auckland on 6 June and sails towards the waters South of New Caledonia this week. They are onboard Research Vessel Tangaroa, for the second leg of the GEOTRACES programme: a ten-year international study of trace elements in the marine environment.

NIWA & The University of Auckland - Migration patterns linked to genetic differences in New Zealand seabirds

1 June 2011

Ground-breaking research by NIWA and The University of Auckland, investigating the annual movements of New Zealand seabirds migrating within the Pacific Ocean, has revealed that populations are genetically distinct, and have been for centuries as a result of their differing migration behavior.

Electrical Conductivity Logger - Unidata 6536D

This measures and records the Electrical Conductivity (EC) and temperature of water.

Water Depth and Temperature Sensor - Unidata 6542B

This analog output sensor provides accurate long-term measurements of water depth and temperature in bores, drains and rivers.

The 6542B can measure water depths of up to 20 m and comes in five standard ranges: 1, 2, 5, 10 or 20 metres of water.

It has an accuracy of better than +/-1% of full scale and water level and temperature outputs are available as two separate analogue voltage outputs for connection to a data logger.