GNS Science's science platforms

Platform 1 - Geological Resources ($9.77 million p.a.)

By 2026, in part as a result of this Platform's research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand better understand and sustainably manage its geological resources, with a focus on underpinning sustainable energy supply, optimal groundwater management, and regional development while supporting environmental, cultural and social outcomes. We will deliver new data, models, insights and technical solutions across the research value-chain to enable these outcomes.

This Platform comprises components of 3 science programmes:

1. Kaitiakitanga ki Te Riu-a-Māui ($3.331 million p.a.): Underpinning research investigating the composition, structure, tectonics, and dynamism of New Zealand's landscape and largely-submerged continental mass (Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui). 
2. New Zealand’s Groundwater Resources ($2.50 million p.a.): Improving the characterisation and dynamic modelling of aquifer systems to sustainably manage New Zealand’s groundwater resources. 
3. New Zealand’s Energy Futures ($2.007 million p.a.): Increasing green energy production and utilisation through improved knowledge of New Zealand’s natural energy systems.

In addition, this Platform benefits from $1.939 million p.a. invested through five enabling programmes to deliver Vision Mātauranga, Data Science, Social Science, Capability Development and Strategic Development objectives.

Platform 2 - Geological Processes and Hazards ($16.366 million p.a.)

By 2026, in part as a result of this Platform's research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand be more aware of the hazards and risks that we face, and to have new, robust strategies in place for reducing those risks and increasing the resilience of individuals, communities and the nation. We will deliver new data, models, insights and technical solutions across the research value-chain to enable these outcomes.

The Platform comprises components of three science programmes:

1. Hazards and Risk Management ($7.40 million p.a.): Generating critical scientific knowledge to improve New Zealand’s resilience to natural hazards at national, regional, business, community and individual levels.
2. New Zealand’s Changing Environment and Climate ($2.33 million p.a.): Contributing geoscience leadership to the investigation of fundamental global climate mechanisms and associated climate change impacts on New Zealand. 
3. Kaitiakitanga ki Te Riu-a-Māui ($4.093 million p.a.): Underpinning research investigating the composition, structure, tectonics, and dynamism of New Zealand's landscape and largely-submerged continental mass (Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui). 
   In addition, this Platform benefits from $2.543 millionM p.a. invested through five enabling programmes to deliver Vision Mātauranga, Data Science, Social Science, Capability Development and Strategic Development objectives.

In addition, this Platform benefits from $2.543 million p.a. invested through 5 enabling programmes to deliver Vision Mātauranga, Data Science, Social Science, Capability Development and Strategic Development objectives.

Platform 3 - Nuclear and Isotope Science ($3.449 million p.a.)

By 2026, in part as a result of this Platform’s research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand’s policies and plans for environmental and energy management improved, resulting in sustainable economic growth from our energy, land and water resources, and enhanced resilience to anthropogenic pressures on the environment. We also expect to see a growing manufacturing sector with increased innovation and R&D investment, resulting in a significantly greater proportion of exports through use of new high-value materials.

The Platform comprises components of 4 science programmes:

1. New Zealand’s Energy Futures ($758 thousand p.a.): Developing new energy storage technologies through ion beam modification of surfaces to create and apply new materials that increase energy efficiency, support new lower-emission energy sources, and develop new high-value industries. 
2. New Zealand’s Groundwater Resources ($470 thousand p.a.): Improving the characterisation and dynamic modelling of aquifer systems to sustainably manage New Zealand’s groundwater resources. 
3. New Zealand’s Changing Environment and Climate ($580 thousand p.a.): Contributing geoscience leadership to the investigation of fundamental global climate mechanisms and associated climate change impacts on New Zealand. 
4. Kaitiakitanga ki Te Riu-a-Māui ($46 thousand p.a.): Underpinning research investigating the composition, structure, tectonics, and dynamism of New Zealand's landscape and largely-submerged continental mass (Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui). 

In addition, this Platform benefits from $1.595 million p.a. invested through five enabling programmes to deliver Vision Mātauranga, Data Science, Social Science, Capability Development and Strategic Development objectives.

Learn more about GNS Science(external link) — GNS Science

Platform 1 - Geological Resources ($7.725 million p.a.) - groundwater, geothermal energy, and other geological resources

By 2024, in part as a result of this Platform's research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand better understand and sustainably manage its geological resources, with a focus on underpinning sustainable energy supply (geothermal energy), optimal groundwater management (municipal supply, agriculture, industry), and regional development while supporting environmental, cultural and social outcomes. We will deliver new data, models, insights and technical solutions across the research value-chain to enable these outcomes.

This Platform comprises components of 3 science programmes:

1. Understanding Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui ($2.625 million p.a.): Underpinning research investigating the composition, structure, tectonics, and geohistory of New Zealand's largely-submerged continental mass (Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui).
2. Groundwater ($2.05 million p.a.):  Improving the characterisation and dynamic modelling of aquifer systems to sustainably manage New Zealand’s groundwater resources. 
3. New Zealand’s Geothermal Futures (1.85 million p.a.):  Increasing the contribution of geothermal energy to renewable energy production through improved knowledge of NZ’s hydrothermal systems.

In addition, this Platform benefits from $1.2 million of $3.6 million p.a. invested through 4 new enabling programmes to deliver Vision Mātauranga, Data Science, Social Science and Capability Development objectives.

Platform 2 - Geological Processes and Hazards ($14.75 million p.a.)

This Platform delivers research aimed at reducing risks and strengthening resilience to geological hazards.

By 2024, in part as a result of this Platform's research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand be more aware of the hazards and risks that we face, and to have new, robust strategies in place for reducing those risks and increasing the resilience of individuals, communities and the nation. We will deliver new data, models, insights and technical solutions across the research value-chain to enable these outcomes.

The Platform comprises components of 3 science programmes:

1. Hazards and Risk Management ($7.5 million p.a.):  Generating critical scientific knowledge to improve New Zealand’s resilience to natural hazards at national, regional, business, community and individual levels.
2. Global Change Through Time ($1.625 million p.a.):   Contributing geo-science leadership to the investigation of fundamental global climate mechanisms and associated climate change impacts on New Zealand.
3. Understanding Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui ($4.425 million p.a.): Underpinning research investigating the composition, structure, tectonics, and geohistory of New Zealand's largely-submerged continental mass (Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui). 

In addition, this Platform benefits from $1.2M of $3.6 million p.a. invested through 4 new enabling programmes to deliver Vision Mātauranga, Data Science, Social Science and Capability Development objectives.

Platform 3 - Nuclear and Isotope Science ($2.425 million p.a.)

This Platform applies nuclear and isotope science and technology to deliver environmental and economic benefits for New Zealand.

By 2024, in part as a result of this Platform's research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand's policies and plans for environmental and energy management improved, resulting in sustainable economic growth from our energy, land and water resources, and enhanced resilience to anthropogenic pressures on the environment.  We also expect to see a revitalised manufacturing sector with increased innovation and R&D investment, resulting in a significantly greater proportion of exports through use of new high-value materials.

This Platform has 1 dedicated science programme:

Materials for a low-Carbon future ($0.5 million p.a.): Ion beam modification of surfaces to create and apply new materials that increase energy efficiency, support new lower-emission energy sources, and develop new high-value industries. 

In addition, the following programmes in Platform 1 and 2 also draw on nuclear and isotopic science funded through this Platform:

1. Groundwater ($350,000 p.a.):  Improving the characterisation and dynamic modelling of aquifer systems to sustainably manage New Zealand’s groundwater resources. 
2. Global Change Through Time ($325,000 p.a.): Contributing geo-science leadership to the investigation of fundamental global climate mechanisms and associated climate change impacts on New Zealand. 
3. Understanding Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui ($50,000 p.a.): Underpinning research investigating the composition, structure, tectonics, and geohistory of New Zealand's largely-submerged continental mass (Zealandia/Te Riu-a-Māui). 

In addition, this Platform benefits from $1.2 million of $3.6million p.a. invested through 4 new enabling programmes to deliver Vision Mātauranga, Data Science, Social Science and Capability Development objectives.

Geological resources ($9.8 million per year)

Delivering research aimed at helping New Zealand make informed decisions about the sustainable use or preservation of its groundwater, geothermal energy, petroleum and mineral resources.

By 2024, in part as a result of this Platform’s research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand make optimal use of its geological resources, to underpin secure energy supply (geothermal, oil, natural gas), groundwater use (municipal supply, agriculture, industry), and manufacturing (mineral raw materials), while supporting environmental, cultural or social outcomes. We will deliver data, models and technical solutions to enable these outcomes.

This Platform has 5 science themes:

1. Understanding the Crust ($1.8 million): Investigating the composition, structure, tectonics, and geohistory of New Zealand’s largely submerged continental mass of Zealandia.
2. Regional Prospectivity ($2.9 million): High-quality prospectivity information to inform geological resource exploration.
3. Exploration and Discovery ($4.1 million): Sound, practical knowledge of geothermal energy, groundwater, petroleum and mineral systems to support exploration and sustainable resource management.
4. Recovery ($1.3 million): Advanced models and tools to support resource extraction efficiently, sustainably, and in an environmentally and culturally acceptable way.
5. Resources and Society ($0.8 million): Supporting the public debate on the effects of resource extraction on the environment with sound information that is widely understood by New Zealand society.

Geological processes and hazards ($16.4 million per year)

Delivering research aimed at reducing risks and strengthening resilience to geological hazards.

By 2024, in part as a result of this Platform’s research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand be more aware of the hazards and risks that we face, and to have new, robust strategies in place for reducing those risks and increasing the resilience of individuals, communities and the nation. We will deliver data, models and technical solutions to enable these outcomes.

The Platform has 5 science themes:

• Understanding Earth Processes ($3.2 million): Better scientific understanding of the tectonic drivers in collision and subduction plate margins and crustal structure, leading to improved hazard models.
• Hazard Monitoring ($0.4 million): Developing automated detection and notification of geological hazards associated with New Zealand’s active plate boundary, and distal sources.
• Understanding Hazards ($5.2 million): Knowledge of the causes and effects of New Zealand’s main geological hazards (earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption and landslide) to provide the necessary information to develop robust hazard and risk assessment models, and sound resilience strategies.
• Assessing Risk ($0.9 million): Improving the RiskScape tool to provide a greater understanding and quantification of hazard risk.
• Societal and Economic Resilience ($1.6 million): Advancing knowledge of the social, economic, and cultural factors to enhance community resilience and advance decision support tools.

Nuclear and isotope science ($3.4 million per year)

Applying nuclear and isotope science and technology to deliver environmental and economic benefits for New Zealand.

By 2024, in part as a result of this Platform’s research initiatives, we expect to see New Zealand’s policies and plans for environment management improved, and shown to be effective, resulting in sustainable economic growth from our land and water resources, a healthy population, and enhanced resilience to anthropogenic pressures on the environment.

We also expect to see a revitalised manufacturing sector with increased innovation and R&D investment, resulting in a significantly greater proportion of exports through use of new high-value materials.

This Platform has 2 science themes:

1. Environmental Tracers ($1.8 million): Understanding biological, chemical and geological processes based on isotopic and elemental tracers, and applying these methods to evaluate the impact of human activity on New Zealand’s environment.
2. Advanced Materials ($0.8 million): Ion beam modification of surfaces to create new structures and properties for use in high-value industries.

Geological Resources

This platform delivers data, models and technical solutions that enable New Zealand to make informed decisions on the sustainable management and optimum use of its geothermal energy, groundwater and other geological resources to help underpin secure energy supply, groundwater use and manufacturing, while supporting environmental, cultural and social outcomes.

This year, we completed new modelling of the effects of reinjecting geothermal brines, with captured CO2, back into geothermal reservoirs. The modelling results allow us to scale up results from recent laboratory experiments to test the potential impacts of reinjecting CO2 on the reservoir structure and infrastructure. In other projects we developed new understandings of New Zealand’s natural heat resources from new measurements of the thermal properties of representative geological formations, new insights of the tectonic controls on New Zealand’s complex heat flow regimes, and new methods for assessing the heating and cooling energy potential of subsurface aquifers.

New Zealand’s critical groundwater resources are at increasing risk of contamination and depletion from increased land use, population growth and climate change. This year, using noble gasses, we identified complex recharge and discharge mechanisms of groundwater systems. Understanding these mechanisms will help regional authorities better manage New Zealand’s groundwater resources.

The Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia programme continues to provide underpinning data and insights of our continent that support the ambitions of energy companies and government to increase the contribution of geothermal power towards a more sustainable, low-carbon energy future. This year we completed new measurements of the fundamental physical properties in the Earth’s crust and developed new magneto-telluric geophysical models for the Taupō Volcanic Zone that are guiding exploration drilling and resource strategies by energy companies. A recent example is the planned 35 MW Taheke geothermal power project, which was recently approved for the fast-track consenting process.

Contact: Dr Isabelle Chambefort, I.Chambefort@gns.cri.nz

Geological Processes & Hazards

New Zealanders face the threat of geological hazards and extreme weather events every day. We live on the boundary between two tectonic plates, and the resultant geological processes trigger volcanic activity, earthquakes, tsunami and landslides, while climate change is increasingly impacting our environment, ecosystems and infrastructure. This platform delivers research aimed at reducing risks and strengthening resilience to these hazards.

Results from the Hazards & Risk Management programme underpin GNS Science’s natural hazard expert advice. This year, our researchers contributed to the forecasts and response to all four geohazard perils that we research, including the landslides produced during Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle, and the volcanic unrest at Taupō that produced a M5.6 earthquake and small lake-wide tsunami. Development of RiskScape, our risk assessment tool, continued apace with a new graphical user interface.

The Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia programme analysed pressure, temperature and hydrological data from our network of seafloor observatories along the north Hikurangi margin to refine our understanding of the subduction zone processes and potential to cause damaging earthquakes and tsunami along the East Coast and beyond. Another project identified priorities and optimal site locations for future expansion of the GeoNet monitoring network. A consensus emerged for expansion of the network in the South Island, focussing on the plate boundary zone to provide maximum information along the Alpine Fault.

The Global Change through Time programme provides modelling of climate change risk and impact for New Zealand and Antarctica and undertakes research to support coastal adaptation. New biogeochemical and microplastics modelling shows that if all microplastic pollution of the marine environment ceased and all existing microplastics pollution was removed, some oceans could take hundreds of years to recover their natural nutrient and oxygen levels, highlighting the importance of aggressive mitigation of plastic pollution.

Contact: Dr Graham Leonard, G.Leonard@gns.cri.nz

Nuclear & Isotope Science

This platform applies nuclear and isotope science to deliver environmental and economic benefits for New Zealand. Our research focuses on the development and application of new materials and technologies to enable increased use of renewable energy and drive greater energy efficiency. We also apply elemental and isotope geochemistry to identify and understand environmental trends, including contamination.

This year, the Materials for a Low-Carbon Future (MLCF) programme spun out its first start-up company, Bspkl, to commercialise new membrane technology for green hydrogen electrolysers. The programme also secured its largest commercial R&D contract, with Fisher & Paykel Appliances. This project aims to deliver a step change in thermal performance of appliance insulation materials, with the goal to significantly reduce life cycle emissions from domestic appliances. This research leverages materials synthesis and testing capability developed through the MLCF programme.

In contamination studies, the Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia programme, in conjunction with Soilsafe Aotearoa, published new results on soil pollution in urban centres. The results show that cities with longer periods of urbanisation have higher levels of metal pollution in soils, whereas when the period of urbanisation is similar (e.g., Auckland and Dunedin), other factors, such as the age and quality of housing, become more important. The Groundwater programme developed a national isotope survey to define the sources of nitrate contamination in New Zealand freshwaters. This project identified high risk nitrate regions related to land use and highlighted the pervasive nature of nitrate in the environment.

The Global Change through Time programme continues to develop new approaches that use radiocarbon to contribute to New Zealand’s transition to a low-carbon future. These include developing global best practice guidelines for monitoring carbon emissions using citizen science, and invited contributions to the IPCC Taskforce for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

Contact: German Orozco, g.orozco@gns.cri.nz

Geological Resources

This platform delivers data, models and technical solutions that enable New Zealand to make informed decisions on the sustainable management and optimum use of its geothermal energy, groundwater and other geological resources to help underpin secure energy supply, groundwater use and manufacturing, while supporting environmental, cultural and social outcomes.

This year, new laboratory experiments injecting CO2 into geothermal brines greatly improved our understanding of the potential to reinject greenhouse gases into geothermal reservoirs, to reduce CO2 emissions from geothermal power plants. Our research on surface heat loss was used by Bay of Plenty Regional Council to revise their reservoir models of the Rotorua Geothermal Field for resource management purposes. Our revised geological models, interpretations of geophysical datasets, and assessments of geothermal surface features are being used by Contact Energy to inform the renewal of their resource consents for the Wairakei-Tauhara Geothermal Field.

New Zealand’s critical groundwater resources are at increasing risk of contamination and depletion from increased land use, population growth and climate change. This year, a new community engagement project commenced to better identify groundwater nitrate levels throughout Northland. Nitrate pollution is a potential health threat, yet many drinking water bores in rural Northland are not routinely monitored for nitrates. We also completed enhancements of the National Groundwater Recharge Model using data science techniques that greatly improve estimations of groundwater availability.

Results from our Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia programme continue to support exploration and development of geothermal resources in the Taupō Volcanic Zone. Contact Energy utilised our magneto-telluric data and regional compilations of potential field data in their reconsenting of the Wairakei-Tauhara system. The programme continues to produce a range of innovative geological maps, including a new 1:50 000 scale map of northeastern Otago, covering one of the main gold mineralised zones in the province.

Contact: German Orozco, g.orozco@gns.cri.nz

Geological Processes & Hazards

New Zealanders face the threat of geological hazards every day. We live on the boundary between two tectonic plates, and the resultant geological processes trigger volcanic activity, earthquakes, tsunami and landslides. In the longer term, global climate change will cause more-gradual change to our environment. GNS Science’s Geological Processes & Hazards platform delivers research aimed at reducing risks and strengthening resilience to these hazards.

Results from the Hazards & Risk Management programme underpin GNS Science’s natural hazard expert advice for New Zealand and the SW Pacific. This year, we produced a rapid report on the volcanic ash impacts from the massive Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption. A new 2021 National Tsunami Hazard Model was completed, providing more accurate tsunami wave height forecasts at the coastline, and modelling results were used in a new probabilistic tsunami inundation study for Hutt City Council. RiskScape, our multi-hazard risk analysis software, was released as open source for research use, and Toka Tū Ake EQC officially moved to RiskScape as its loss modelling engine.

New data on the recurrence intervals of Hikurangi Subduction Zone earthquakes and new knowledge of fault behaviour and seismicity in the Taupō Rift Zone were used in the 2022 revision of the National Seismic Hazard Model. This revision builds on the last 2 decades of research funded through SSIF and its predecessors.

The Global Change through Time programme provides modelling of climate change risk and impact for New Zealand and Antarctica. It contributed to the recent publication of local scale sea rise projections for the entire New Zealand coast. These projections are critical for planning for adaptation to climate change. Our team is undertaking a range of new research initiatives to support coastal adaptation at regional and local scales.

Contact: Dr Gill Jolly, G.Jolly@gns.cri.nz

Nuclear & Isotope Science

This platform applies nuclear and isotope science to deliver environmental and economic benefits for New Zealand. Our research focuses on:

• development and application of new materials and technologies to enable increased use of renewable energy and drive greater energy efficiency; and
• application of elemental and isotope geochemistry to identify, understand and utilise environmental trends.

This year, the Materials for a Low-Carbon Future (MLCF) programme hosted an industry workshop on rechargeable battery reuse and recycling, covering technical barriers and solutions to improved environmental outcomes. A collaborative project with University of Otago demonstrated the use of ion beam surface modification to control how metal surfaces interact with water, with potential application to reduce energy loss in heat pumps, refrigerators and other appliances. Ion beam technologies created through the MLCF programme were scaled up and a new early-stage business (b.spkl) created, aiming to manufacture critical components for membrane electrolysers used in green hydrogen production. This development was awarded a place in the Creative HQ Climate Response Accelerator.

The Te Riu-a-Māui/Zealandia programme developed new methods for cost-effective measurement of trace elements in soil. Collaborative projects with several New Zealand universities and Manaaki Whenua–Landcare Research mapped and identified elemental and isotopic trends in soils across different land-uses in southern New Zealand, Marlborough and Auckland. They also established soil elemental fingerprints for applications such as baseline environmental monitoring and tracing of agricultural products. A new national-scale bioavailable strontium isotope map was produced, with applications in food forensics and biosecurity. This isotope map has proven effective for tracing the regional origin of locally produced agricultural products, such as cow milk, in Aotearoa. The map is also being used to identify whether invasive pests recovered at ports represent established New Zealand populations or are recent invaders.

Contact: Dr John Burnell, J.Burnell@gns.cri.nz