$24 million for NIWA-led Deep South Challenge
Funding of $24 million over five years has been approved for New Zealand’s second National Science Challenge - The Deep
South Challenge Te Kōmata o Te Tonga, Science and Innovation Minister Steven Joyce says
The Deep South Challenge will be hosted by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and conducted
by researchers across seven organisations including Victoria University of Wellington, the New Zealand Antarctic
Research Institute, Antarctica New Zealand, GNS Science, Landcare Research, and the University of Otago.
“The Southern Ocean and Antarctica play a very big role in determining New Zealand’s climate,” Mr Joyce says. “This
Challenge aims to shed new light on the exact impact the Deep South has in determining our climatic conditions, and to
transform the way New Zealanders adapt, manage risk, and thrive in a changing climate.”
Mr Joyce says the Deep South Challenge will involve multi-disciplinary research across universities, Crown research
institutes, and other research organisations including international institutions.
“The Deep South Challenge will leverage the world-class climate research currently undertaken by New Zealand
researchers, to provide New Zealanders greater certainty in their planning for changing climatic conditions,” Mr Joyce
says.
The Deep South Challenge will:
Develop a New Zealand-specific model to improve predictions of our future climate
Create a better understanding of how our climate conditions are driven from the Southern Ocean and Antarctica
Research impacts on climate-sensitive economic sectors, infrastructure and natural resources of changes driven by
climate processes in the deep south
Research climate-related risks and opportunities for industry, Māori, communities, planners, and regulators
Research into Antarctic sea ice is one example of the science to be undertaken by the Challenge. Scientists will study
the growth and decay of Antarctic sea ice to gain a better understanding of its influence on the ocean and the
atmosphere components of the climate system.
The $24 million funding approved for the Challenge is subject to the finalisation of contract conditions. Total funding
available for the Deep South Challenge is up to $88.1 million over ten years. This includes CRI core funding of up to
$37 million for work aligned to the Challenge. Funding was approved by the Science Board, appointed by the Minister of
Science and Innovation, following assessment from a panel comprising world-leading experts in a number of fields
including marine and climate science.
The Deep South Challenge is the second National Science Challenge to have its funding confirmed. The Government has
announced ten Science Challenges to tackle the biggest science-based issues and opportunities facing New Zealand.
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