Oceans
Impact on welfare from climate change apparent in Pacific
Evidence that climate change is a threat to global welfare can be seen in the Pacific, the World Meteorological Organisation says. Audio
Discovering the biggest seaweed bloom in the world
A floating mass of seaweed stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico is now the biggest seaweed bloom in the world, according to satellite observations. Audio
NZ-led team wins competition for $4m ocean mapping
A New Zealand-led team has won a multi-million dollar competition exploring the depths of the ocean.
Both traditional knowledge and Western scientific discovery can help save the Pacific Ocean, say experts
Chaired by Mihingarangi Forbes, this Auckland Museum panel explores how scientific and traditional approaches to knowledge can inform how we care for the Pacific. Audio
Keeping the ocean's pH levels in check
The pH levels of the world's oceans are starting to drop dramatically, affecting everything from shellfish to the amount of carbon the seas are absorbing. Audio
Science Under the Shelf
Scientists from NIWA have just returned from the Ross Ice Shelf in what is believed to be the southern-most reporting ocean instrumentation on the planet, they now have a full year of ocean… Audio
Growing concern over rising acidity levels in seawater
New Zealand's waters are becoming more acidic due to the absorption of carbon emissions. It's not an issue confined to NZ - the world's oceans are experiencing the fastest rate of acidic change in 25… Audio
More knowledge needed about plastics in the ocean - National
Ministry for Environment has come under fire for not having more information about how much plastic is in New Zealand's oceans. Officials were today questioned on their knowledge, but National MP… Audio
A practical guide to giving up plastics
It's been called the environmental scourge of our age - so what can individuals do ? Will Mc Callum is the head of Oceans at Greenpeace UK who has just written 'How to Give up Plastic - a guide to… Audio
Lucy Hunt: Volvo Ocean Race head of sustainability
Each port visited by the Volvo Ocean race includes a beach clean as part of Volvo's ongoing commitment to keep oceans free of plastic. Today they are doing a clean up at Takapuna beach and their head… Audio
Pacific backs Norway in zero tolerance to plastic pollution
The head of the UN Environment's Pacific Office says protecting the oceans from plastic pollution is a high priority at the current global meeting in Kenya. Audio
Bag ban tip of the plastic iceberg
Countdown's ban on bags from the end of 2018 is great news - but it's only a dent in the mountain of plastic produced and used every year, Greenpeace's Elena Di Palma writes.
Govt urged to walk the talk on dolphins, oceans
Action, rather than just research, is needed to protect Maui and Hector's dolphins, marine scientists and environmental groups say, as the government pledges to safeguard oceans.
WWF urges new bycatch solutions
New Zealand's fishing bycatch regulations need to be improved, environmental organisation WWF says. Audio
Marine environment at great risk
Ninety percent of New Zealand's native seabirds and shorebirds face extinction due to ocean acidification and warming, a Ministry of Environment and Statistics NZ report says. Audio
Marine sponges may be climate change 'winners'
New research shows that ocean acidification may make some marine sponges more resilient in the face of climate change and warming water. Audio
Mitchell Chandler: Our Ocean
Kim Hill talks to Mitchell Chandler, who is majoring in oceanography at the University of Otago. He was chosen by the Sir Peter Blake Trust to represent New Zealand as one of 150 youth delegates from… Audio
NZ abstention on marine protection vote 'cowardly'
New Zealand is being "cowardly" by refusing to join an international push to protect a third of marine areas, Forest and Bird says.
Future of sea level rise science
John Church, an expert on sea level rise and one of the scientists who could lose his job at CSIRO, discusses how ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are contributing to sea level rise now and in… Audio
Nematodes from the deep
Sediment samples collected from 6,000 - 9,000m deep in the Kermadec Trench were teeming with tiny nematode worms – over 100 new species were collected from just four samples. Audio