Sharks

Latest news

Extremely rare albino shark discovered in Auckland

Media Release

22 April 2020

A deep dive into the collection of an Auckland War Memorial Museum has revealed an extremely rare albino shark.

Treasure found on Northland beach

Media Release

19 October 2018

A chance find by a woman walking on a Northland beach is now helping scientists learn more about mako sharks.

Shark survival tale

Feature story

15 October 2018

As part of a Pacific-wide study, NIWA is measuring the survival rate of sharks returned to the sea by commercial tuna fishers.

Shark conservation one watermelon at a time

Media Release

2 July 2018

Warrick Lyon is heading to the Marshall Islands to teach fisheries observers how to tag sharks.

Our work

Movements and habitat use of shortfin mako sharks in the southwest Pacific Ocean

Sharks are vulnerable to overfishing because of their low reproductive rates and often low growth rates. Most pelagic sharks fall near the middle of the shark productivity scale, and there is concern that catching too many of them could lead to population depletion. In New Zealand waters, mako sharks are the second most commonly caught shark species (after blue sharks) on tuna longlines.

White sharks

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

Pelagic shark risk assessments

NIWA has developed a new method for spatially-explicit, quantitative, sustainability risk assessment of pelagic shark population.

Latest videos

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.

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.

Rig sharks - a familiar stranger

Some think they're cute, and some say tasty, but little is known about rig sharks and their habitat.

Extremely rare albino shark discovered in Auckland

Media Release

22 April 2020

A deep dive into the collection of an Auckland War Memorial Museum has revealed an extremely rare albino shark.

Treasure found on Northland beach

Media Release

19 October 2018

A chance find by a woman walking on a Northland beach is now helping scientists learn more about mako sharks.

Shark survival tale

Feature story

15 October 2018

As part of a Pacific-wide study, NIWA is measuring the survival rate of sharks returned to the sea by commercial tuna fishers.

Pelagic shark risk assessments

NIWA has developed a new method for spatially-explicit, quantitative, sustainability risk assessment of pelagic shark population.

Movements and habitat use of shortfin mako sharks in the southwest Pacific Ocean

Shark conservation one watermelon at a time

Media Release

2 July 2018

Warrick Lyon is heading to the Marshall Islands to teach fisheries observers how to tag sharks.

From shallows: moving from the familiar shores of Raoul Island to lesser known higher latitude Islands

Over the last few days the “dive team” have been recording corals, fishes, urchins and other invertebrates from the shallow waters (0-30m) surrounding Raoul Island to complement the biodiversity records from the deeper ocean collected by the other scientists onboard.

Public help sought as hammerhead shark does his bit for science

3 February 2014

People fishing in the Bay of Islands are being asked to keep a look out for a young hammerhead shark, nicknamed Orokawa.

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.

Summer Series 6: Broadnose Sevengill Shark

31 January 2012

The broadnose sevengill shark, Notorynchus cepedianus, is named descriptively after – wait for it– its broad snout and seven gill slits! Interestingly, most shark species only have five gills. The broadnose sevengill is one of New Zealand's more common inshore sharks.

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.

Rig sharks - a familiar stranger

Some think they're cute, and some say tasty, but little is known about rig sharks and their habitat.

Association of Women in the Sciences

28 July 2011 to 29 July 2011

NIWA is sponsoring the Association of Women in the Sciences (AWIS) conference being held in Auckland.

For more information about the conference see AWIS conference website

White sharks

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

Nationwide rig shark survey completed

Scientists from NIWA and Massey University have surveyed rig shark (aka lemon fish) nurseries in 13 estuaries nationwide. They also recorded a number of environmental parameters, which will help scientists understand more about the preferred habitats of rig sharks.

Summer Series 6: Swimming with sharks

28 January 2011

The rig shark can be found all around New Zealand at this time of year, from spring to summer. It is found in coastal waters, estuaries and inlets, down to a depth of 200 metres.

Upgraded research vessel

12 December 2010

The return of the upgraded RV Tangaroa represents a huge advancement for New Zealand science and exploration

NIWA today welcomed home RV Tangaroa, New Zealand’s only deepwater research vessel, after a $20 million dollar upgrade to enhance its ocean science and survey capabilities.