Richie Hughes was working near the Poor Knights Islands, off the coast of Tutukaka in Northland, when a bloom of mauve stinger jellyfish came drifting past. He was stung after taking a selfie with it, and had big welts on his hands that took weeks to recover - but he said the photo was worth it. Photo: NIWA / Richie Hughes
A painful selfie with a Northland jellyfish and a misty scene from Fiordland forest are some of the moments captured by NIWA staff this year.
Every year, NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) holds a photography competition for staff in its climate, oceans and freshwater platforms, who often visit stunning locations the the course of scientific research.
This year's competition attracted more than 400 entries.
Some of the photos came at a cost - such as when scientific dive specialist Richie Hughes was stung when he came close up to a stinger jellyfish while trying to get a selfie with the creature.
Here are a selection images from the competition winners:
A translucent slipper lobster larvae hitching a ride on the back of a mauve stinger, captured by marine ecologist Irene Middleton at Bream Bay in Northland. Photo: NIWA / Irene Middleton
Delicate soft corals anchored in the seabed of Doubtful Sound, in Fiordland. Marine ecologist Irene Middleton who took the photo said it was cold in the water but she's stoked with the results. Photo: NIWA / Irene Middleton
A moody landscape in the heart of a Fiordland forest, captured by marine ecologist Katie Cook. Photo: NIWA / Katie Cook
New Zealand saw spectacular pink skies following the Tongan volcanic eruption in January 2022. Systems engineer Jill Scott captured this afterglow in the Wellington night sky. Photo: NIWA / Jill Scott