
GeoDiscoveryNZ
Ocean and Land Scientific Drilling and Discovery

GeoDiscoveryNZ is a consortium of Crown Research Institutes and Universities that coordinates global Earth and Ocean science research.
We coordinate geoscience discovery and research with relevance to Zealandia, the Southern Ocean and Antarctica.
About us
GeoDiscoveryNZ coordinates global Earth and Ocean science research using large-scale scientific drilling platforms to recover data recorded in sediments and rocks and to monitor subsurface environments.
Our current members are GNS Science, NIWA, the University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago.
GeoDiscoveryNZ aims to:
- Develop and lead science proposals and to bring scientific drilling expeditions to the Southwest Pacific and the Southern Ocean,
- Enable participation in the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) with Australia (ANZIC) and the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP)
- Promote opportunities and encourage wide representation including increasing Māori and Pacifika participation,
- Compile and publicise scientific drilling capability and knowledge,
- Engage a larger community of Earth scientists and stakeholders working together and contributing to leading international research,
- Enhance science diplomacy
GeoDiscoveryNZ advocates for strengthened collaborations between IODP and ICDP to advance ocean-to-land drilling campaigns to answer fundamental questions about natural hazards, as well as explore the connections between plate tectonics, climate system, ecosystems, life and habitability, sea level change, and groundwater flow across the coastline.
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Our People
GeoDiscoveryNZ Committee
Co-chairs: Phaedra Upton(external link) (GNS) and Joshu Mountjoy(external link) (NIWA)
GNS Science: Phaedra Upton(external link) and alternate Georgia Grant(external link)
NIWA: Joshu Mountjoy(external link) and alternate Jess Hillman(external link)
University of Auckland: Lorna Strachan(external link) and alternate James Muirhead(external link)
Victoria University of Wellington: Robert McKay(external link) and alternate Jenni Hopkins(external link)
University of Otago: Christina Riesselman(external link) and alternate Andrew Gorman(external link)
GeoDiscoveryNZ Office Coordinator: Marianna Terezow(external link)ANZIC Governing Council membership(external link)
NZ Co-Chairs: Phaedra Upton(external link) and Joshu Mountjoy(external link)
Observers: Christina Riesselman(external link), Lorna Strachan(external link) and Robert McKay(external link)
Independent member: Roger Fairclough(external link)ANZIC Science Committee membership
Lorna Strachan(external link) (Chair, UoA), Georgia Grant (external link)(GNS), Suzanne Bull (external link)(GNS), Bella Duncan(external link) (VUW), Jess Hillman(external link) (NIWA), James Muirhead(external link) (UoA), Matthew Druce(external link) (UoO)
IODP Science Evaluation Panel membership
ANZIC Representative: Jess Hillman(external link)
ICDP Assembly of Governors: Chelydra Percy(external link) (GNS)
ICDP Executive Committee: Richard Levy(external link) (GNS)ICDP Science Advisory Group
John Townend(external link) (Victoria University of Wellington) -
Our Tohu
Our tohu incorporates traditional Māori Niho Taniwha, the triangle pattern, used to represent landscape, rivers, lakes, mountains, and the seafloor, together with the Pūhoro used to communicate movement, genealogy, and navigation.

