MARINE RESEARCH & EDUCATION
IN NORTHLAND / TE TAI TOKERAU
Bay of Islands, Aotearoa New Zealand
Mission Statement
TriOceans (Tangaroa Research Institute) conducts high-quality marine research and delivers field-based marine education, weaving mātauranga Māori with modern science to support thriving coastal ecosystems in Te Tai Tokerau.
Our Research in Te Tai Tokerau
We undertake long-term marine mammal monitoring, benthic surveys, photogrammetry, passive acoustics, and vessel-based research throughout Northland, with a focus on the Bay of Islands. Our goal is to promote kaitiakitanga through understanding our marine environment: discovering through research, and sharing through education.
Our work supports DOC, hapū, councils and research partners, while feeding directly into education programmes.
Field education & training
We deliver hands-on marine education programmes across Northland — from visiting university field courses and internships to boat-based field trips and short courses for the public.
Our education work connects people directly with marine science, mātauranga Māori and coastal stewardship, while supporting real-world research and monitoring programmes. Programmes are delivered in close partnership with iwi, government agencies and research organisations, ensuring learning is grounded in place while connecting students with wider networks.
40+
Field Courses Students
17
Research interns hosted
2500+
Survey hours at sea logged
500+
Pages of Technical & Scientific Eeporting
Aroha Island — Our Headquarters
Place-based marine science in Te Tai Tokerau
TriOceans is headquartered on Aroha Island in the Bay of Islands, where we operate in close partnership with mana whenua through Ngāti Mau and Ngā Kaitiaki o te Motu Aroha Trust.
This partnership shapes how we work — embedding kaitiakitanga, tikanga and long-term stewardship into our marine research, education programmes and field operations across Northland.
Our developing base on the island supports marine field courses, community learning and long-term ecological monitoring, while remaining a low-impact, conservation-focused presence within the rohe.