Avalon Campus
1 Fairway Drive
Lower Hutt 5011
PO Box 30368
Lower Hutt 5040
New Zealand
T +64 4 570 1444
www.earthsciences.nz
15 August 2025
Logan Chalmers
By email: R
C <fyi-request-31818-
[email address]
Subject:
Official Information Act request – Information of fixed-site ocean temperature data
(sampling < 3h) within NZ EEZ
Kia ora Logan,
I am writing in response to your 30 July 2025 request under the Official Information Act (OIA) on behalf of the
New Zealand Institute of Earth Science Limited (Earth Sciences New Zealand) formed by the merger of GNS
Science and NIWA on 1 July 2025.
I note you separately requested the same information from the NIWA Business Unit of Earth Sciences New
Zealand and from DIA which transferred you request to the GNS Science Business Unit of Earth Sciences New
Zealand on 5 August 2025. This response wil address information held by both the NIWA and GNS Science
Business Units of Earth Sciences New Zealand.
You have requested the following information:
“…
any fixed-site water temperature data col ected within New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (NZ EEZ) from
sensors such as moorings, buoys, seafloor instruments, wharf sensors or other loggers.
I would like to know:
- Sampling frequency: For any datasets you hold, what is the sampling interval (ideally less than three hours)
and over what period were the data col ected?
- Geographic coverage: For any datasets you hold, what are the approximate locations of the installations (e.g.,
specific harbour or region) and the general type of installation?
I do not require the data itself at this stage; I am simply requesting confirmation of whether such data are held and
summary metadata describing the sampling frequency and geographic coverage.”
Request granted in part
Information held by GNS Science Business Unit
It is not clear to us what level of metadata you require and, without further refinement of your request, it will
take many hours to compile relevant metadata. On that basis, we are declining your request in part under
section 18 (f) of the OIA because
the information requested cannot be made available without substantial
col ation or research.
OIA Response
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Avalon Campus
1 Fairway Drive
Lower Hutt 5011
PO Box 30368
Lower Hutt 5040
New Zealand
T +64 4 570 1444
www.earthsciences.nz
We can confirm the following information:
1. The GNS Science Business Unit does hold some temperature datasets which is a mix of data from public
hazard pressure sensors (DART) and research pressure sensors (short term occupations) in the EEZ. In both
cases these sensors do not directly measure ocean temperature. The sensors are recording temperature in
an instrument case on the seafloor (not directly in the water).
2. Public hazard pressure sensors (DART) are visible at
GeoNet: DART Network and stretch from the East Coast
of the North Island throughout the Southwest Pacific. Data from these sensors is publicly available and
accessible as described:
Tilde Data Documentation Version 4
eg:
tilde.geonet.org.nz/v4/dataSummary/dart?name=water-temperature.
3. Research pressure sensors are positioned at variable locations scattered along the East Coast of the North
Island. Deployments last 6 months-1.5 years and have station spacing between 5-20km (mostly 10-15km)
and span ~50-60km per deployment.
The data from research pressure sensors is jointly owned by multiple international institutions and would
take a significant amount of time to curate. Given the time and resource involved, there would likely be a
charge for us to curate this data as we would seek the agreements of research partners for the release of the
data. We also could not provide detailed meta-data before understanding more about the requirements of
the metadata for your intended research to assess whether the metadata is suitable.
An alternative and more efficient approach would be to direct you to a scientist in the GNS Business Unit to get a
better understanding of your research project and provide you with assistance to gain access to the required
information. Please let us know if you would like to take this approach and we will provide you a contact.
Information held by the NIWA Business Unit
The NIWA Business Unit does hold water temperature data col ected by sensors fixed in place (for example,
moorings, buoys, seafloor instruments, wharf sensors, or ship-berth loggers) within New Zealand's Exclusive
Economic Zone.
This information exists but it is not in any centralised form. To answer your request would take months of work
to compile. The scientists involved are happy to discuss directly with you in an academic capacity and will make
contact through your supervisor.
Please note, under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman of this decision.
Nāku, nā,
Anna Jellie
General Counsel
OIA Response
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Document Outline
