Virgin Group founder Richard Branson now plans to explore the deepest depths of the world's oceans with a jet-like submarine.

The latest cyclone to grow out of the Pacific is forecast to brush past NZ, creating a risk of high seas on the North Island's east coast.

Only a freakish combination of weather conditions could see a storm with the force of Cyclone Yasi reach New Zealand.

A dolphin known as 'Potato' has been spotted swimming in Whangarei harbour with a dead calf on her fins.

Some sharks lurking around NZ waters this summer are in more danger than the swimmers they scare, Niwa says.

The search for 17 people missing after a Korean fishing vessel sank in the Southern Ocean early today has been scaled down as it becomes increasingly unlikely further survivors will be found.

Five people are dead and 17 missing after a Korean fishing vessel sank in the freezing waters of the Southern Ocean, 2700km south east of Bluff, early this morning.

New Zealand is one of four nations calling for whaling protest ships in the Southern Ocean to safeguard life at sea.

NASA has just released this amazing image of phytoplankton bloom around the Chatham Islands.

An RNZAF Orion has been taken off the search for a New Zealander lost overboard in the Pacific Ocean as hopes of his survival fade.

NZ fishermen are pressing ahead in the hunt for 'the world's deadliest catch' - giant crabs below some of the world's roughest ocean.

New Zealand is braving an international backlash by going after fish species environmentalists say are unsustainably caught. Geoff Cumming reports.