There's no signpost to say you're nearing New Zealand's subantarctic islands, but a welcome that's a little more dramatic.

Three new marine reserves, covering 435,000 hectares of ocean, have been set up in the subantarctic today.

A free diver who was dragged to the depths of the ocean by a killer whale has told how he got down to his "last breath" during the terrifying ordeal.

When a bedraggled and bewildered Jose Salvador Alvarenga washed up on a remote Pacific atoll many were sceptical of his tale - but it's been backed by scientists.

Ferry operator Fullers admits dumping raw sewage into the Hauraki Gulf, but says a new Waiheke Island vessel due in August will have large enough holding tanks to avoid that.

A Japanese whaling ship is reported to have tailed an anti-whaling ship into waters off Otago against the wishes of the NZ Govt, which labelled the move 'disrespectful'.

'When it first happened I was like, I'm not even getting in the bathtub again.' But surfer Darren Mills has changed his mind, after his shark encounter.

The Government should strongly censure Japan after one of its whaling vessels entered New Zealand's waters, the Green Party says.

Friends of experienced diver Bruce Porter have reacted with shock to his death after being hit by a boat.

Dramatic details of surfer Darren Mills' lucky escape from a shark attack emerged yesterday, as the British immigrant began his recovery from serious injuries.

Tony Abbott's administration has been accused of being the most conservation-hostile in living memory.

Motorists and beach-goers are again being urged to keep an eye on a king tide that has caused issues in recent days.

They're the world's largest animal - and very elusive - so it's no wonder NIWA scientists are thrilled at the number of blue whales swimming in NZ waters right now.

King tides are due to wash up on Auckland's shores just after 10am today, and the New Zealand Transport Agency is warning people to take extra care on coastal roads.

A Mexican fisherman who says he drifted for months across the Pacific Ocean before washing up on a remote Marshall Islands atoll is on his way home.

King tides lure dozens out to play but expert warns people to take care in the current.

Eyes on the underwater world of New Zealand, photos by Richard Robinson. See more of his photos in this series at www.depth.co.nz.

The sole survivor of a boat capsize in Foveaux Strait which claimed the lives of eight people heard the screams of the only child on board just after a massive wave swamped the vessel in the middle of the night, a court has heard.

A New Zealander who survived being shipwrecked in shark-infested Fijian waters has lost part of his arm in an accident on board a foreign fishing vessel.