South & West Pacific Ocean Regional Center

Based at the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the South and West Pacific Ocean Regional Ocean Center acts as the regional focus for data compilation and coordination activities in the South and West Pacific region.

www.niwa.co.nz/

  • Atlantic and Indian Ocean
  • North Pacific and Arctic Ocean
  • Southern Ocean
  • South and West Pacific Ocean
  • NIWA
  • Atlantic and Indian Ocean
  • North Pacific and Arctic Ocean
  • Southern Ocean
  • South and West Pacific Ocean
Credit: Tracey Jennings / Ocean Image Bank

CENTER ROLE

The South and West Pacific Regional Ocean Center acts as the focus for data compilation and co-ordination activities for Seabed 2030 in the South and West Pacific Ocean.

The Center has responsibility over 123 million sq.km of ocean from South America to Australia, between 10°N and 50°S, and the western part of the Pacific Ocean to 50°N. The region includes the world’s deepest trenches, extensive internal seas, and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) from everything from large ocean states of the Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT) to populous Asia countries. In the most remote regions, bathymetric data originate from existing ship tracks that are spaced by more than 100 km apart. The center is based at the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and is one of Seabed 2030’s network of regional and global centers.

CENTER OVERVIEW

The center is coordinated by a Technical Management Committee consisting of staff from: the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science) and Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), which hosts the New Zealand Hydrographic Office.

For the last 50 years NIWA and its predecessor, the New Zealand Oceanographic Institute (NZOI), have been pioneers in seafloor landmark discovery around Aotearoa-New Zealand, including active faults and volcanoes.

Connections with Regional Hydrographic Offices and science organisations around and within the Pacific are providing substantial data input to Seabed 2030.

Promotion of the Seabed 2030 Project and GEBCO has featured prominently in the activities of the center, with more than 50 conference attendances, stakeholder meetings, and media interviews. The center is continually seeking opportunities to enhance its visibility and activity in the region and boost contribution from all potential partners. Coordination with the Pacific Community (SPC) is expected to bring more engagement of PICTs with the Project.

Center Head

Center Head

Kevin Mackay

Head of South and West Pacific Center

View Bio

Center Team: National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)

Belén Jiménez    Center Manager

Sally Watson    Marine Geologist 

Tilmann Steinmetz    Data Analyst & Administrator

Center Team: Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS Science)

Vaughan Stagpoole    Emeritus Scientist

Brook Tozer    Marine Geophysicist

 

Jenny Black    Data Technician – Geospatial Data and Analysis Team; IBCSO editorial member

Center Team: Toitū Te Whenua Land Information New Zealand (LINZ)

Adam Greenland    NZ National Hydrographer; member of the IHO SWPHC

Glen Rowe    Senior Tide Analyst – Hydrographic Authority

Stuart Caie    Manager – Hydrographic Survey; IHO SWPHC Seabed 2030 / CSB Coordinator

NEWS & EVENTS: South & West Pacific Ocean Regional Center

Back to our Centers

Apply to become
a Seabed 2030 Ambassador

Reach out and one of our team
will be in touch.

Contact

"*" indicates required fields

*Mandatory fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Contribute data

Morbi aliquet felis sed urna tincidunt

Pellentesque ligula velit, vulputate eget ligula ac, aliquet lobortis tortor. Donec posuere sem sit amet mi dapibus accumsan. Proin et lacus est. Morbi aliquet felis sed urna tincidunt, in tincidunt enim consectetur. Ut et dolor id dolor vehicula euismod. Nam bibendum quis odio eget tincidunt. In pellentesque molestie augue, sit amet molestie eros. Donec consectetur rhoncus lacus id convallis.

Morbi tempor semper ipsum luctus porta. Quisque euismod, leo nec scelerisque hendrerit, purus purus interdum ex, ac ultrices sapien massa sit amet purus. Vivamus sit amet condimentum ante. Phasellus eu nisi cursus, blandit turpis sit amet, viverra elit. Quisque et tortor augue. Phasellus leo erat, consequat quis ipsum a, sagittis feugiat purus. In faucibus bibendum nisl non placerat. Nam porttitor cursus sem, quis fermentum mi condimentum vitae.

The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO
Seabed 2030 Project.