From this week Niwa will study vulnerable deep sea communities.
The research vessel Tangaroa will explore the biodiversity of habitats in the Bay of Plenty and southern Kermadec Ridge, starting 80km off Tauranga.
Voyage leader Dr Malcolm Clark says they'll survey seamounts, hydrothermal vents, canyons and the continental slope, at depths of between 700 and 1,500m.
He says it will improve the understanding of connections between habitats, which can help environment management for activities like fishing.
