Estuaries

NIWA research and tools support the protection, restoration and management of coastal estuarine environments where seawater mixes with freshwater.

  • Freshwater Ecological monitoring

    We offer a range of ecological monitoring tools.
  • Ngā Waihotanga Iho - The Estuary Monitoring Toolkit

    Software Tool/Resource
    The main purpose of Ngā Waihotanga Iho is to provide tools for the public to measure environmental changes that occur in estuaries over time. These changes may occur due to natural processes and/or human activities.
  • Restoration of aquatic ecosystems

    Research Project
    This project aims to increase our knowledge of aquatic ecosystems and their restoration, and apply this to degraded streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries.
  • Pacific atoll mangrove forests losing ground to sea-level rise

    Research Project
    Mangrove systems on oceanic atolls may lose the race to keep pace with sea-level rise.
  • eDNA research and services

    Service
    NIWA is active in a broad range of eDNA topics and can provide expert advice on applications and expected outcomes. We welcome inquiries into our services and can assist with experimental design.
  • Climate change experts tour New Zealand’s coastal wetlands

    Media release
    A group of international scientists are visiting some of New Zealand’s most significant coastal wetlands as part of a five-year research project to help the country adapt and prepare for sea-level rise.
  • Taonga Species Series: Tuangi

    Feature story
    What does science tell us about New Zealand cockles?
  • Technology provides views of life in remote habitats

    Media release
    Aotearoa-New Zealand’s marine area covers 167,650 square kilometres presenting a staggering distribution of climates, from subtropical to subantarctic waters, to understand and manage.
  • Understanding the threat of sea level rise to NZ’s wetlands

    Media release
    Specialised monitoring equipment has been installed in Bay of Plenty estuaries to understand whether our coastal wetlands can survive the threat of inevitable sea-level rise.
  • Ki uta ki tai: NIWA’s role in mountains-to-sea estuarine management

    Media release
    Estuaries are coastal waterbodies where freshwater mixes with seawater. Many estuaries in Aotearoa New Zealand have been impacted by pollutants and contaminants entering via freshwater.
  • New weapon in fight against invasive aquatic weeds

    Media release
    A combination of artificial intelligence and scientific ingenuity looks set to be the next step forward in protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s lakes and rivers from invasive aquatic weeds.
  • Taonga Species Series: Piharau

    Feature story
    What does science tell us about New Zealand lamprey?