Coasts

Latest news

New study to combat harm caused by anchoring

Media Release

16 April 2024

Ship anchors may cause extensive and long-lasting damage to the seafloor, according to new NIWA research.

Higher and drier – the cost of raising homes

Media Release

30 August 2023

New research shows that in some cases, lifting houses may be a cost-effective way to reduce intermittent flooding risk.

Identification of significant ecological areas for the Otago coastal marine area

12 June 2023

Long-term protection of Otago’s coastal habitats took a step closer to reality after more than 100 marine Significant Ecological Areas (SEA) were identified as part of a research project led by NIWA.

New maps reveal places at risk from sea-level rise

Media Release

25 May 2023

New maps from NIWA and the Deep South National Science Challenge show areas across Aotearoa New Zealand that could be inundated by extreme coastal flooding.

Latest videos

Dive into the alien world of plankton in the Ross Sea

Plankton are the base of the oceans food web and are vital to our survival. But as our world changes will they be able to continue to play this essential role? Join us as we follow a group of NIWA scientists investigating various aspects of this question in the ocean around Antarctica.

Shifting Sands

Dr Joshu Mountjoy discusses NIWA's work in assessing the tsunami hazard just south of Kaikoura.

Find out more about this research.

Antarctic Coastal Marine Life in a Changing Climate

NIWA marine ecologist Dr Vonda Cummings discusses the likely effects of climate change on marine invertebrates living on the seafloor of the Ross Sea coast.

These organisms have evolved in a very stable environment and are adapted to an extremely narrow range of sea conditions. Relatively large increases in sea temperatures and acidity predicted by the end of this century may outstrip their ability to adapt. Laboratory experiments with common Antarctic shellfish suggest that predicted increases in ocean acidity may threaten shellfish populations.

Next Stop Antarctica

Our Far South is an expedition that aims to raise New Zealanders' awareness of the area south of Stewart Island. Gareth Morgan, Te Radar, scientists and 50 everyday Kiwis are onboard to learn and then share their experience. This is the first video produced by them, showing some of the highlights of the trip so far.

Chance find leads to first look at coral larvae

Media Release

12 November 2020

Small orange flecks spotted floating around in a respiration chamber at a NIWA laboratory have led to a discovery about the spawning habits of a deep-sea stony coral in New Zealand waters.

Underwater robot getting close-up look at Kaikōura Canyon

Media Release

8 October 2020

A six-metre long orange underwater robot is flying through the Kaikōura Canyon for the next month collecting information on how the canyon has changed since the 2016 earthquake.

Making Waves - Sep 2020

Welcome to the September edition of Making Waves. As always, our commitment is to deliver quality science for the benefit of New Zealand.

Serious games as a tool to engage people

NIWA is using serious games to look at problems holistically, support understanding and give a framework for climate change adaptation decision-making.

Tsunami evacuation zones home to 1 in 10 New Zealanders

Media Release

19 August 2020

NIWA scientists have completed the first national assessment of people and buildings at risk in New Zealand’s tsunami evacuation zones.

Researchers on hunt for fish nurseries

Media Release

7 August 2020

NIWA researchers are heading out from Tasman early next week to survey an area thought to be home to important juvenile fish nurseries.

Squat lobster memoir hot off the press

Media Release

6 August 2020

After a decade-long effort, NIWA’s latest Biodiversity Memoir has just rolled off the presses. Written by marine biologist Kareen Schnabel, the 350-page treatise presents everything we currently know about the different kinds of squat lobster living in New Zealand’s waters.

Nameless nodes get new look from NIWA

Media Release

29 July 2020

At the bottom of the Southern Ocean, near Cape Adare in East Antarctica, lies an undersea ridge which until this month was only known by its co-ordinates: -71.2132 latitude, 172.1649 longitude.

A cold day in the office

Feature story

28 July 2020

Five specialist NIWA divers were left ‘gasping’ during their recent plunge under the ice near Scott Base.

Concepts in sustainable aquaculture - IMTA

Media Release

23 July 2020

New ways to address environmental sustainability challenges.

New ocean data from under the world’s biggest ice shelf

Media Release

30 June 2020

New measurements from the ocean under the centre of the Ross Ice Shelf have significantly improved our understanding of the complex processes that drive melting in Antarctica.

COVID-19 modelling

NIWA population modeller Samik Datta is involved in peer reviewing New Zealand's modelling of COVID-19.

Making Waves - June 2020

NIWA is currently working closely with stakeholders to ensure that our research and advice are applied to maximum effect to assist with the recovery after COVID-19.

From land to sea – tracing our trash

NIWA and the Sustainable Coastlines charitable organisation are collaborating to develop ‘source-to-sea’ methods to trace the movement of litter from stormwater systems, through rivers, to coastlines.

Small sea-level rises to drive more intense flooding, say scientists

Media Release

14 April 2020

A little can mean a lot – especially when it comes to the relationship between sea level rise and coastal flooding.

New reports highlight flood risk under climate change

Media Release

21 August 2019

Two reports released today by NIWA and the Deep South National Science Challenge reveal new information about how many New Zealanders, how many buildings and how much infrastructure could be affected by extreme river and coastal flooding from storms and sea-level rise.

Plastic pollution processes in rivers

Most of the plastic in the ocean originates on land, being carried to the estuaries and coasts by rivers. Managing this plastic on land before it reaches the river could be the key to stemming the tide of marine-bound plastics. The aim of this project is to understand the sources and fate of plastic pollution carried by urban rivers using the Kaiwharawhara Stream as a case study.

Compound Specific Stable Isotope tracing of sediment sources - tools to manage a sticky problem in New Zealand’s freshwaters and estuaries

Fine sediment is New Zealand’s most widespread water contaminant, degrading ecosystems, infilling dams and reservoirs and impairing recreational, cultural and aesthetic values in our rivers, estuaries and coastal seas.

Planning for coastal adaptation

Coastal risk exposure for New Zealand, adaptation guidance for local government and relevant summaries of previous court cases and Building Act 2004 determinations.

Charts

Charts of coastal bathymetry, sediment, and other information are available for purchase.

What is ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification is the name given to the lowering of pH of the oceans as a result of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere.

Waves

Wave climate around New Zealand

Wave climate around New Zealand
NIWA has recently implemented a large wave model (NIWAM) for the oceans around New Zealand. This is based on WAM, a 3rd generation model which accommodates the processes of wind generation, white-capping and bottom friction, and includes a direct estimate of non-linear energy transfer through four-wave interactions. NIWAM has been established on a 1.125° resolution grid (see image below) covering the Southwest Pacific, New Zealand, Australia and the Southern Ocean.