Operators undertaking marine scientific research, prospecting and exploration activities in the EEZ must keep the EPA informed of their activity.
This page has information about ongoing activities, or activities about to commence.
For more information about how this activity is regulated, see the section on undertaking a marine scientific research, prospecting and exploration.
We have received a pre-activity notification from NZ Offshore Wind Development Limited to conduct marine scientific research in the Exclusive Economic Zone, offshore of Taranaki.
NZ Offshore Wind Development Ltd is planning a metocean measurement program involving the installation of one floating LiDAR buoy and one wave buoy. Moorings associated with each buoy will be installed and recovered as part of this activity.
Note: the pre-activity notification for this activity was updated on 22 July 2022 to include details of the wave buoy.
We have received a pre-activity notification from the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The notification is to conduct marine scientific research within the Exclusive Economic Zone. The Chinese Academy of Sciences will carry out deep-sea dives of the Kermadec Trench in a Human Occupied Vehicle, and collect videos, biological and geological samples to grow scientific understanding of hadal trenches.
This activity commenced on 10 November 2022.
We have received a pre-activity notification from NIWA to conduct marine scientific research within the Exclusive Economic Zone. NIWA will catch and release scampi and take samples of seafloor sediments as part of a study of scampi growth and distribution. This research is government funded.
Read the pre-activity notice for NIWA's 2023 scampi survey (PDF, 1.44MB)
We received a pre-activity notification and initial environmental assessment from NIWA to conduct marine scientific within the EEZ and beyond in the Pacific. NIWA will deploy six DART buoys as part of a tsunami early detection and warning system. This is a multi-year activity. This research is wholly government funded.
Pre-activity notice (PDF, 1MB)
Initial environmental assessment (PDF, 967KB)
Interim post-activity report for years 1 and 2 (PDF, 1.5MB)
Commenced: 13 December 2019
Phase 1 Completed: 23 December 2019
We received a pre-activity notification and initial environment assessment from GNS to conduct marine scientific research in various locations off the east of the North Island.
GNS Science uses an unmanned underwater vehicle known as a glider to periodically survey instruments on the seafloor to measure horizontal movement of the tectonic plates. This research forms part of a larger six-year project to assist in determining the likelihood and effects of future subduction zone earthquakes from the Hikurangi subduction zone.
We issued a waiver of procedural requirement for this activity.
Pre-activity notice for glider deployment (PDF, 767KB)
Initial environmental assessment for glider deployment (PDF, 565KB)
Commenced: 24 January 2019
We have received a pre-activity notification and initial environment assessment from GNS under Regulation 11(a) of the EEZ (Environmental Effects–Permitted Activities) Regulations to deploy a variety of moored scientific instruments along the East Coast of the North Island.
These instruments will passively monitor tectonic processes for up to 12 years, with retrievals and redeployments tentatively scheduled annually. The activity was scheduled to commence on 19 June 2015 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2027.
Pre-activity notice for HOBITSS II (PDF, 351KB)
Initial environmental assessment (PDF, 531KB)
Commenced: 22 July 2015
Find out more about the requirements.
Find out about past activity in the EEZ.