News

Read about the important science being undertaken at NIWA, and how it affects New Zealanders.

Census time for fish and habitats around New Zealand’s continental shelf

10 May 2011

NIWA’s latest voyage of discovery will examine the expansive continental shelf around New Zealand looking for our biodiversity hotspots.

Endothall helping in the fight against invasive aquatic weeds

6 May 2011

New research on the effectiveness of the herbicide endothall shows favourable results in the battle to rid lakes and rivers of New Zealand’s most invasive aquatic weeds, including hydrilla, hornwort and lagarosiphon (an oxygen weed).

Preparing New Zealand for storms: lessons from Yasi

4 May 2011

Cyclone Yasi, which hit Australia in February, was a massive storm that destroyed hundreds of homes and devastated tropical rainforests. Understanding the risks posed by natural hazards like Cyclone Yasi, and how to mitigate their impact, is an important priority for New Zealand as extreme weather resulting in emergency situations can be expected to become more frequent. Our climate is becoming increasingly variable, while more people are living in coastal areas which are vulnerable to storms.

Marine Reserves Survey

8 April 2011

If you would like to contribute to a Victoria University study about marine reserves in New Zealand please complete these surveys for Taputeranga marine reserve and Kapiti marine reserve.
This research is being performed by a PHD student at Victoria University and is not related to NIWA. However, we support the aims of the research and are happy to provide a link from our site to promote a good response to the survey.

Robot returns from the icy depths

8 April 2011

NIWA Oceanographer Dr Craig Stevens has returned, with stunning images and data, from a successful month-long research trip in Antarctica, where he led a team of international and New Zealand scientists.

Happy 50th Birthday Lauder – Laudable work

7 April 2011

Lauder celebrates 50 years of atmospheric research.

Fiordland blue cod: “Smile – you’re on baited-underwater-video”

4 April 2011

NIWA marine scientists will use baited-underwater-video (BUV) to assess blue cod stocks in Fiordland this week. It's the first time this unique way of monitoring fish stocks has been used in the fiords.

New research improves predictions of dangerous rip currents

1 April 2011

New research about how the configuration of beaches and climate cycles affect rip currents will help improve the accuracy of forecasts of when and where dangerous rips occur on New Zealand beaches, potentially saving lives.

Tagged juvenile tarakihi to teach us about nursery habitats

31 March 2011

During late March and April, NIWA fisheries scientists will be tagging hundreds of juvenile tarakihi in Tasman and Golden Bays, in an effort to learn more about their nursery habits and habitat.

NIWA weather modelling research aims to improve the accuracy of New Zealand forecasts

29 March 2011

NIWA’s weather prediction model simulated the intense rainfall which fell just north of the capital, and flooded parts of Porirua, on Sunday 27 March. Thirty nine millimetres of rain fell in less than an hour, around 1.00pm.

Measurable tsunami waves hit New Zealand on cue after Japan earthquake

17 March 2011

New data from NIWA shows waves generated by last Friday’s magnitude 9.0 Japan earthquake reached all coasts of New Zealand, as predicted, and even registered on a sea-level gauge at Scott Base, in Antarctica.

NIWA Scientists set to survey Pegasus Bay with seismic equipment

16 March 2011

NIWA’s research vessel Kaharoa set sail from Wellington today, destined for Lyttelton and equipped with seismic survey gear to survey an area of southern Pegasus Bay.

NIWA prepares for the future

15 March 2011

NIWA’s Chief Executive, John Morgan says that action taken now to align NIWA’s capability with the country’s science needs means that the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) will be better prepared for the future.

Cook Strait Canyon starts to spill its secrets

14 March 2011

Preliminary results from the first comprehensive survey of the Cook Strait Canyon seabed have begun to reveal tantalising scientific secrets about New Zealand's largest underwater canyon.

Stay at home snapper

8 March 2011

NIWA studies reveal that different movement and behaviours exist within snapper stock – some snapper stay at home, while some range for hundreds of kilometres. Our studies also show that marine reserves may well be affecting the behaviour of fish that inhabit them.

Top international climate scientists meet in NZ to discuss state-of-the-art global climate observation network

28 February 2011

More than 30 international experts in climate science will meet in Queenstown this week to discuss implementing a new a state-of-the-art global network to improve the quality of measurements of upper air climate variables.

Just how windy can it get in Wellington?

11 February 2011

We all know it can get pretty windy in New Zealand.

World experts converge in Wellington for the Extreme Weather Conference

11 February 2011

Over the past decade, predicting the weather, and understanding the changes in climate, has emerged as one of the most important and topical areas of scientific endeavour.

Summer Series 7: Sea cucumber - the slug that dispels its digestive organs through its bottom!

31 January 2011

It looks like a slimy worm –- but it lives in the sea! The common sea cucumber is a sluggish creature, brown and blotchy, designed to blend in with its habitat: rocky reefs and sandy bottoms.

It is sub tidal and can be found at depths up to 100 metres, all around the coast of New Zealand.

"They look like a worm crossed with a sausage, and the adults can grow to 20 cm and live for five years," says NIWA aquaculture scientist Jeanie Stenton-Dozey.

NIWA creates designer homes for fish

28 January 2011

Seagrass meadows – vital nursery grounds for young fish – are vanishing at an alarming rate worldwide.

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