They perform feats of amazing acrobatics, create intricate works of art and some just look weird - but until last year these species were completely unknown to science.

In a paper published yesterday in Science, researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describe the unique mechanism that enables the opah, a deepwater predatory fish, to keep its body warm.

Although they are frequent visitors to the Manukau and Kaipara Harbours, white sharks are rarely seen in the gulf.

Twenty-one tonnes of oiled debris has been collected from the Tauranga Harbour following last week’s oil spill.

About 1500 litres of heavy fuel oil was leaked into Tauranga Harbour on Monday, Mobil has revealed.

"This is one of New Zealand's biggest ports - if we can't contain this, how are we going to deal with off-shore drilling? I don't think we can really take the risk."

Proposed Auckland port developments could be a killer blow for the harbour's already endangered New Zealand orca population, a wildlife expert fears.

Shark diving around Stewart Island will be under the spotlight at a public meeting tonight that is being hosted by New Zealand First.

The dead oarfish washed up at Aramoana last week has disappeared and marine experts are warning against eating its 3m-long fillets.

A picture of a young boy who drowned off of the coast of the Greek island of Rhodes has come to represent the tragedy in the Mediterranean sea.

Thermal imaging could be used to prevent ships striking whales by detecting the heat from their bodies.

The boat of two fishermen missing from Port Waikato since Monday may never be recovered, police say.

An ocean ecologist is extremely disappointed after he saw a commercial fishing boat allegedly longline fishing at a Marine Reserve.

The families of two fishermen missing at Port Waikato endured a third anxious night waiting for any news of their loved ones.

The air search today for the two missing fisherman was unsuccessful, police say.

A fisherman missing with a friend after crossing the Port Waikato Bar usually stayed clear of the notoriously dangerous stretch of water.

Conservation group Sea Shepherd has come to the aid of the crew of a poaching vessel that sank off the coast of West Africa.

NZ is home to tens of thousands of endemic plant, animal, insect and marine species. Jamie Morton looks at 10 new finds.

A man rescued from a ledge after a fishing trip went horribly wrong was worried about what to tell his wife when he got home without any fish.

Auckland Council has formally asked Ports of Auckland to halt construction of two massive wharf extensions.

A marine reserve around Waiheke Island beaches could lead to the kind of crowding that occurs at Goat Island, residents opposed to the plan say.

The doomed Costa Concordia was carrying a huge shipment of Mafia-owned cocaine when it set off on its final voyage, investigators have said.