Oceans

Recording old oceans centre tag.

Latest news

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 changing oceans

Feature story
13 June 2019

The on-going rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) that is fuelling climate change is also driving significant changes in the waters off our coasts.

 

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

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

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

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

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.

 

Supply

We supply a complete range of environmental monitoring equipment, from small components to large systems. We also supply accessories and miscellaneous items.

Manufacturing

We manufacture items such as cables and circuit boards through to subassemblies for both standard and specialized systems.

Development

We develop custom environmental monitoring and irrigation flow-control solutions.

Design

We design instruments and systems of instruments. We have full mechanical and electronic CAD capability.

Did sea-level gauges in New Zealand detect the 2010 Chile Tsunami?

Rob Bell's analysis of the tsunami signature.

Contacts

Contacts for NIWA Invertebrate Collection staff.

Services

Instrument Systems offers a number of services, including: design, development, manufacture, supply, installation, service and support, calibration, evaluation, hire, training and service contracts.

Water Level Recorder - NIWA Hydrologger

A cost-effective water level recorder. Comprises a water surface float-driven shaft encoder and internal data logger with rainfall input. Connects directly to compatible communications devices.

Wave Gauge - NIWA DOBIE

When deployed underwater, this self-contained instrument records and analyses water waves. It can trigger other instruments and send alarms via a communications link.

Valiant crew of NIWA’s Kaharoa set to spend Christmas in wild waters

23 December 2009

NIWA’s 28-metre research vessel Kaharoa will spend Christmas at sea. Kaharoa will be in the midst of the Indian Ocean, on an epic journey deploying over 100 ocean-profiling ‘Argo’ floats.

Icebergs South of New Zealand

18 November 2009

Australian Antarctic Division seal biologists were the first to photograph several large icebergs off the coasts of Macquarie Island. Since the beginning of November these icebergs have been pushed north by winds and ocean currents to be within 250 km of New Zealand.

Icebergs

Icebergs approach New Zealand’s sub-Antarctic islands every few years.

Sea ice study yields new insights

4 November 2009

NZ scientists endured the dark polar winter to find what drives the dramatic growth of sea ice

Instrument Systems Update 13, October 2009

Welcome to NIWA's Instrument Systems Update. The 2009 irrigation season has started!

What is ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification is the name given to the lowering of pH of the oceans as a result of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

How do we identify new aquatic species?

Different groups of organisms need trained specialists (taxonomists) to distinguish a new species from one that is already named and scientifically described

How do we map the seafloor?

Multibeam echo sounders emit a fan of sound beams to the seafloor to scan a wide swath of the seabed in great detail. 

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.

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.

Tidal energy optimisation

Understanding the complexity of tidal resources in New Zealand’s coastal waters and examining how extracting tidal energy would influence and be influenced by this variability.

Remote sensing of phytoplankton biomass and productivity

Satellite images can be used to measure phytoplankton biomass in the ocean around New Zealand in order to understand ocean ecosystems, fish populations and greenhouse gas absorbtion.

Deepsea minerals of the Kermadec Ridge - geophysical prospectivity and environmental impacts

A survey of valuable ore deposits and ecosystems along the volcanic Kermadec Ridge north of New Zealand, designed to inform both potential development and management of seabed resources in the area.

SOLAS SAGE - sea-air gas exchange experiment

In 2004, scientists added iron salts to surface Sub-Antarctic waters east of New Zealand's South Island to determine whether this stimulated phytoplankton growth, and to examine the exchange of carbon dioxide (CO2) and trace gases between the atmosphere and ocean.

NZ SOLAS (Ocean–Atmosphere Interactions)

This research aims to provide better predictions of changes in the ocean and climate system, particularly the way in which the ocean around New Zealand regulates greenhouse gases and clouds.

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All staff working on this subject

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Dr Tara Anderson

Marine Ecologist
Email Dr Tara Anderson
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Dr Philip Barnes

Principal Scientist - Marine Geology
Email Dr Philip Barnes
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Dr Jaret Bilewitch

Molecular Biologist
Email Dr Jaret Bilewitch
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Dr Stacy Deppeler

Marine Biogeochemistry Technician
Email Dr Stacy Deppeler
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Dr Pablo Escobar-Flores

Fisheries Scientist
Email Dr Pablo Escobar-Flores
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Dr Denise Fernandez

Physical Oceanographer
Email Dr Denise Fernandez

Dr Giacomo Giorli

Marine Mammal Acoustician
Email Dr Giacomo Giorli
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Dr Richard Gorman

Coastal and Estuarine Physical Processes Scientist
Email Dr Richard Gorman

Dr Rachel Hale

Marine Ecologist
Email Dr Rachel Hale
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Dr Yoann Ladroit

Fisheries Acoustics Scientist
Email Dr Yoann Ladroit
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Dr Helen Macdonald

Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS) Numerical Modeller
Email Dr Helen Macdonald
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Dr Katie Maier

Marine Sedimentologist
Email Dr Katie Maier

Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher

Atmosphere-Ocean Scientist
Email Dr Sara Mikaloff-Fletcher

Dr Helen Neil

General Manager - Operations
Email Dr Helen Neil

Dr Richard O'Driscoll

Principal Scientist - Fisheries
Email Dr Richard O'Driscoll
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Dr Rachael Peart

Marine Invertebrate Systematist
Email Dr Rachael Peart
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Dr Graham Rickard

Marine Physics Modeller
Email Dr Graham Rickard
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Dr Natalie Robinson

Marine Physicist
Email Dr Natalie Robinson

Dr Ashley Rowden

Principal Scientist - Marine Ecology
Email Dr Ashley Rowden

Dr Kareen Schnabel

Marine Biologist
Email Dr Kareen Schnabel

Dr Craig Stevens

Principal Scientist - Marine Physics
Email Dr Craig Stevens
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Dr Philip Sutton

Physical Oceanographer
Email Dr Philip Sutton
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Dr Leigh Tait

Marine Biologist (Biosecurity)
Email Dr Leigh Tait

Dr Ian Tuck

Principal Scientist - Fisheries
Email Dr Ian Tuck
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Eimear Egan

Freshwater Fish Ecologist
Email Eimear Egan
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Arne Pallentin

Principal Technician - Marine Geology
Email Arne Pallentin

Karl Safi

Algal Ecologist
Email Karl Safi
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