NIWA's Freshwater Centre organises its work around six research programmes. See the following pages to find out more about our research.
Freshwater programmes
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Environmental flows
This programme is focussed on understanding the effects of human use of surface and groundwater systems to inform more sustainable water allocation decisions that benefit ecosystems and communities. -
Freshwater biosecurity
Reducing the risk of new freshwater invasive species, minimising the impacts of these species, and developing methods for reducing or eradicating those populations. -
Freshwater species ecology and management
NIWA is helping to ensure that New Zealand’s unique and iconic freshwater species are healthy, abundant and thriving. -
Hydrological observations and predictions
How much water is in our rivers and groundwater aquifers, how has that has changed over time and how might it change in the future?
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Mitigation systems
Developing techniques for protecting, enhancing and rehabilitating the biodiversity of freshwater ecosystems and the cultural value they provide. -
Causes and effects of water quality degradation
Understanding and predicting the sources of contaminants, developing technologies to clean up the sources, and understanding the consequences of water quality degradation for aquatic ecosystems and human use of waterways.