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

Research

All NIWA research projects

  • 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 examine the potential and risks of three 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.
  • Lagarosiphon major at NIWA's Ruakura site.

    Roto Whakamahu: Degraded lakes restoration using native plants

    Research Project
    Earth Sciences New Zealand researchers are studying the optimal growing conditions of aquatic plants to help restore degraded lakes. 
  • RAS Bream Bay

    Cable Bacteria Biofilm Reactor for Low-Cost, Zero-Emissions Removal of Nitrate From Wastewater

    Research Project
    This research project is developing an energy-efficient, net-zero-emission process for wastewater denitrification.
  • Photo comp winner

    Better forecasting fish abundances under climate change

    Research Project
    NIWA are developing a modelling approach to better predict fish abundances in the past, to then be able to forecast fish abundances in the future under climate change and fishing scenarios
  • Internal wave at poor knights

    The I-MIX Project

    Research Project
    How Internal wave MIXing is altered by climate change and what are the consequences for ecosystems?