On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Research

All NIWA research projects

  • Groundwater and flooding implications for coastal dairy farms banner

    Groundwater and flooding implications for coastal dairy farms

    Research Project
    A risky and potentially costly future
  • Tuna survey banner

    Toitū ngā taonga waimāori: cultural keystone species, Māori livelihoods and climate change

    Research Project
    Strengthening resilience of whānau livelihoods and cultural practices and supporting freshwater environments and taonga species as we navigate our way through climate change.
  • Urban stream

    Native plant “super producers”

    Research Project
    A nature-based solution to reduce metal toxicity in our streams.
  • Banner

    Tools to support powerful conversations 

    Research Project
    Future Coasts Aotearoa is empowering communities to confront climate change with practical and interactive tools designed to inspire meaningful science-based conversations around adaptation. 
  • Clyedvale clouds

    Impact of rising sea levels on New Zealand pasture

    Research Project
    With sea levels expected to rise in New Zealand, the Future Coasts Aotearoa programme is researching how rising seas could raise groundwater levels and affect lowland farming.
  • Forecasting marine heatwaves: A cost-effective early warning system

    Research Project
    Earth Sciences New Zealand are creating an AI-driven national forecasting system to effectively manage marine heatwaves.
  • Hurunui River, North Canterbury.

    Land-to-sea spatial management

    Research Project
    Assessing sediment effects on seafloor primary production via satellite .
  • Offshore wind farm in the UK

    De-risking New Zealand’s offshore wind energy

    Research Project
    A programme to accelerate efficient and accurate assessments of the impacts of proposed offshore developments on New Zealand’s unique marine fauna and habitats.
  • wave

    Catching Marine Carbon

    Research Project
    This Endeavour Fund programme will assess the potential and risks of three proposed marine carbon dioxide removal techniques by studying their natural equivalents in New Zealand coastal and open-ocean waters.
  • How New Zealand's deep and large lakes reflect and are affected by climate change 

    Research Project
    A recently completed research programme undertaken by Earth Sciences New Zealand looked at the likely impact of climate change on deep lakes.
  • ROA banner

    Real Options Analysis

    Research Project
    Evaluating its strengths and limitations through two Future Coasts Aotearoa case studies
  • Wind turbines

    Computational Fluid Dynamics for environmental flow modelling

    Research Project
    Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is an advanced simulation technology that uses numerical methods and powerful computing resources to model the movement of air in the natural environment.