We are New Zealand’s trusted expert in Earth and environmental science. The work we do focuses on some of the most critical environmental issues facing the planet, and our staff are recognised as international experts in their fields.  

We aim to drive New Zealand’s economic growth and wellbeing through increasing returns from the use of New Zealand's natural resources and environments, enhancing energy security, building resilience to natural hazards and increasing prosperity in a changing climate. 

The needs of society shape the science we deliver. We generate people-centric and future focused solutions to grow a safer, stronger, and more prosperous nation. Our cutting-edge research, innovation, and bold new technologies enhance energy security, help society adapt to climate change, build our resilience to natural hazards, and unlock the economic potential of the world around us. We pursue opportunities to lift innovation, commercial outcomes, and use of advanced technology to grow the national economy. 

To produce top-quality science we need to provide a work environment that attracts, retains and develops the very best people, and enables them to do their best work. We offer generous employee benefits and wellbeing initiatives. 

We are currently operating as two business units. The NIWA business unit specialises in atmospheric, freshwater and marine research. The GNS Science business unit's expertise is in the processes that shape the surface and subsurface of the Earth in Aotearoa New Zealand, the Southwest Pacific and Antarctica.  

When it comes to the health, safety and wellbeing (HSW) of our people, Earth Sciences New Zealand starts with the basic premise that everyone has the right to come home from work healthy and safe.  

Every individual at the Earth Sciences New Zealand plays a vital role in fostering a safe and healthy workplace. Through shared responsibility, proactive engagement, and open communication, we are committed to protecting and enhancing the health, safety and wellbeing of all. 

We do everything we can to ensure this happens for all of our people, every day.  

We start with a meaningful and effective Health and Safety Policy, which outlines our deep commitment to HSW procedures, actions and measures. HSW is built into our culture – it’s in our training programmes, it gets talked about at team meetings, it is planned, shared, and acted on whenever we are working  

As one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading environmental research agencies, Earth Sciences New Zealand is committed to acting in an environmentally ethical and responsible manner and supporting an environmentally conscious culture. We ‘walk the talk’ in all that we do - and we’re careful about minimising and mitigating the impact of our operations on the environment. 

The land we live on now is the land on which future generations will live. It’s our responsibility, our kaitiakitanga, to ensure it’s safe and sustainable.