A expedition has been launched to find new life deep below the ocean, in unexplored territory off the coast of Aotearoa's South Island.
The team of scientists will spend 21 days investigating the Bounty Trough system, at depths down to 5000 metres.
The trip is led by the Ocean census alliance, a group made up of international marine scientist and groups, that aim to discover one hundred thousand new species across the global ocean in the next decade.
The voyage co-leader Niwa Marine Biologist Sadie Mills speaks to Lisa Owen.