Search Our Changing World

A new six-part video series highlights the state of our oceans, and efforts from researchers, Māori and other partners to develop sustainable solutions. Audio

Could your burger one day come with a plankton patty? Alison Ballance visits the Cawthron Institute's collection of more than 750 different strains of microalgae, where scientists are investigating… Audio

The Rotopiko peat wetlands are a haven for rare and threatened wildlife. But when a flock of introduced birds numbering in the hundreds of thousands moves in – threatening the very nature of this… Audio

PhD student Kiamaia Ellis describes crayfish as a vulnerable taonga species. Local iwi in Tauranga believe the crayfish population is decreasing because of urban, industrial and harvesting pressures… Audio

Stories about looking our warming world in the eye, and preparing for what is coming next. Collecting data about extreme temperatures in estuaries to help manage shellfish populations. Plus what might… Audio

Two stories on addressing our energy problem - using AI to maximise locally produced renewable energy and reducing the carbon footprint of ammonia production. Audio

University of Canterbury engineers plan to 3D print the next generation of wastewater treatment filters. Audio

Two self-driving underwater robots are making surprising discoveries about where river water ends up at sea, far from land. Video, Audio

Deep sea corals are being put to the test at NIWA to find out how they cope with sediment. Audio

When is the Covid-19 vaccine coming? Will it work? William Ray talks to NZ experts charting our path towards immunity. Audio

Ten years after the Darfield earthquake, three seismologists from GeoNet reflect on a decade of big earthquakes and what we've learnt from them. Audio

Scientists warn that a small amount of sea-level rise could have big consequences for some low-lying parts of New Zealand. Audio

Ocean floor rock cores drilled into the sunken continent of Zealandia are revolutionising our understanding of Earth's history and how continents form. Audio

Dr Ocean Mercier's work bridging the worlds of science and traditional Māori knowledge has been recognised with the 2019 Callaghan Medal for science communication. Audio

Samarium magnets are used in headphones & guitar pickups, and samarium was the first element named after a real person, says Prof Allan Blackman from AUT in ep 72 of Elemental. Audio

A panel of five experts debate what it will take to turn the idea of a predator-free New Zealand by 2050 from a dream into a reality. Audio

Te Awaroa o Porirua Whaitua committee is a group of locals thinking about freshwater quality in the Porirua catchment and harbour. Audio

3D and 4D printing could be a nimble tool for New Zealand manufacturers that also uses wood-based bioplastics. Audio

Wasps are a big problem in New Zealand, and scientists hope that knowing the genomes of common and German wasps will help them find novel ways of controlling the pests. Audio

A team of seabird experts experience the joys and challenges of counting Buller's shearwaters on the predator-free Poor Knights Islands. Audio

A nationwide experiment is investigating how estuaries might suddenly 'tip' as a result of increasing nutrients and sediments. Audio

As ethnic and cultural diversity increases in New Zealand, psychologists discuss their work and the challenges posed by this increasing diversity. Audio

Microbes, such as the fungi-like kauri dieback disease, use chemicals to sense their world - and understanding this might help us to develop new treatments. Video, Audio

The Royal Society of NZ has released guidelines for scientists on public engagement. The NZ Association of Scientists President responds. Audio

Three leading eradication experts talk about Predator Free New Zealand 2050, including the social aspects of engaging communities and the need to develop new tools to better control rats, stoats and… Audio

A tiny mite, that could transmit diseases such as viruses, is being investigated as a possible biocontrol agent for introduced social wasps. Audio

In its latest report on climate change, the Royal Society of New Zealand lays out options for how we coudl reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Audio

New Zealand's chief science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman, and Australia's newly-appointed chief scientist Alan Finkel discuss how their countries could work together for the good of science and… Audio

Kiribati president Anote Tong calls on political leaders to help low-lying Pacific island nations to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Audio