Vessel capability

The 2022 Tonga volcanic eruption triggered the fastest underwater flow ever recorded.

NIWA's vessels are world-class environmental monitoring and research platforms.

Fisheries researchers combine technologies to collect more data at a lower cost.

RV Tangaroa induction videos for voyage participants and contractors.

A versatile inshore vessel, RV Ikatere is equipped with high-precision multibeam and sub-bottom profiler transducers for surveying and mapping the seabed.

Kaharoa is capable of working throughout New Zealand's EEZ and further afield.

NIWA operates about 30 other Maritime New Zealand-certified vessels based at Bream Bay, Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Turangi, Wellington, Nelson, Greymouth, Tekapo, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

RV Tangaroa is New Zealand’s only ice strengthened and dynamically positioned deep-water research vessel.

Find out how you can have access to NIWA's research vessels to carry out marine research voyages.