Oceans - Research Projects

Science Centres: Oceans

White sharks

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

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.

The Ross Sea Trophic Model

Understanding the feeding relationships between different species in the Ross Sea, and how they are affected by commercial fishing, is essential for the establishment of a sustainable fishery in the region.

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.

Mapping marine biodiversity in Bay of Islands

 

Building a publicly-available database from the results of a marine mapping survey of the Bay of Islands provides us with a stocktake of the local aquatic resource, in turn giving us valuable information on what areas we can better manage for the future.

SAGE - SOLAS Air-Sea Gas Exchange Experiment

An experiment to artificially stimulate plankton growth in a 50 km2 test area of ocean. This led to a better understanding of the emission and absorption of gases from the ocean, and the effect this has on the climate.

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.

Kaikoura Canyon Survey

New Zealand's Kaikoura Canyon is a 'biodiversity hotspot', containing far more life than seen before at such depths.

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. 

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.

IceCUBE - Antarctic coastal marine ecosystems

IceCUBE (Coastal Underwater Benthic Ecosystems) is the umbrella name for our coastal marine research project that had its first field year in 2001/02. The project aims to better understand the structure and functioning of benthic (seafloor) ecosystems along the Ross Sea coast.

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. Officially known as Continuous Plankton Recorder Time Series, this study is part of a Ministry of Fisheries marine biodiversity programme.

Paleoseismicity of the Alpine Fault and Hikurangi

This project uses the analysis of ocean floor sediments to help discover a 20,000 year history of major earthquakes in the Alpine Fault and Hikurangi region.

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. This study will measure plankton diversity and productivity in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and predict their response to ocean acidification, warming, and stratification.