NIWA - Climate, Freshwater and Marine Science

NIWA’S purpose is to enhance the economic value and sustainable management of New Zealand’s aquatic resources and environments, to provide understanding of climate and the atmosphere and increase resilience to weather and climate hazards to improve safety and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

NIWA will fulfil its purpose through the provision of research and transfer of technology and knowledge in partnership with key stakeholders including industry, government and Māori to:

increase economic growth through the sustainable management and use of aquatic resources
grow renewable energy production through developing a greater understanding of renewable aquatic and atmospheric energy resources
increase the resilience of New Zealand and South-West Pacific islands to tsunami and weather and climate hazards, including drought, floods and sea level change
enable New Zealand to adapt to the impacts and exploit the opportunities of climate variability and change and mitigate changes in atmospheric composition from greenhouse gases and air pollutants
enhance the stewardship of New Zealand’s freshwater and marine ecosystems and biodiversity
increase understanding of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean climate, cryosphere, oceans and ecosystems and their longer-term impact on New Zealand.

To achieve these outcomes, NIWA is the lead CRI in the following areas:

aquatic resources and environments (with a focus on surface freshwaters and coastal environments)
oceans
freshwater and marine fisheries
aquaculture
climate and atmosphere
climate and weather hazards
aquatic and atmospheric-based energy resources
aquatic biodiversity (including biosystematics) and biosecurity.
NIWA will work with other research providers and end users to contribute to the development of the following areas:

biosecurity, freshwater and hazards management
climate change adaptation and mitigation
ocean floor exploration
seafood sector
urban environments
Antarctica.