The Nationally Significant Collections and Databases (NSCD) are the memory-bank of New Zealand's flora, fauna, and geological and climatic history.
They embody the science and environment of New Zealand, give a sense of the country's place in the world, and help explain how the land and nation have evolved.
The specimens and data help to answer contemporary challenges and will enable further questions to be resolved in the future.
Arable and Vegetable Crop Germplasm
Accessions of arable and vegetable crops such as cereals (grain and forage crops), peas and potatoes - can include old cultivars, landraces, and related species. The Nationally Significant Collections do not include plant varieties while these are protected by Plant Variety Rights (PVR) as these varieties are licensed through specific suppliers.
Custodian: Plant & Food Research
International Collection of Microorganisms from Plants and Associated Databases
A major international collection of plant bacteria for identifying potential bio-controls and pest incursions, held for research purposes and to substantiate species records. Contains over 20,000 strains of fungi and bacteria.
Custodian: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Land Resource Information System
A repository and integrated set of soils and land use databases, which includes the New Zealand Land Resource Inventory, National Soils Database, and Digital Soil Map Database as well as environmental data, that can be downloaded for use in GIS and other applications.
Custodian: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Margot Forde Germplasm Centre
National and international gene-bank of grassland plants providing the foundation for pasture, turf and soil conservation, plant breeding, and research. Holds seeds from about 100 countries representing 1,800 species from 350 genera and over 70 plant families.
Custodian: AgResearch
National Climate Database
Information on temperature, rainfall, wind, solar radiation, and other climate elements in various time intervals (from minutes up to years) from about 6,500 climate stations, some from 1850 onwards. The primary focus is the New Zealand mainland, but data also covers Antarctica.
Custodian: NIWA
Fruit Crop Germplasm
Accessions of fruit crops such as kiwifruit, pipfruit, hops, berryfruit, summerfruit and citrus - can include old cultivars, landraces, and related species. The Nationally Significant Collections do not include plant varieties while these are protected by Plant Variety Rights (PVR) as these varieties are licensed through specific suppliers.
Custodian: Plant & Food Research
National Earthquake Information Database
Summary information of New Zealand earthquakes, including epicentres, depths and magnitudes, together with felt information. Also includes seismograms recorded by the New Zealand National Seismograph Network.
Custodian: GNS Science
National Forest Herbarium and Database
New Zealand's largest collection of planted and indigenous forest tree species. Established in 1946 and home to 30,000 catalogued, geo-referenced, and securely quarantined species in a custom-designed vault.
Custodian: Scion
National Groundwater Monitoring Programme
Collection of hydrological, geochemical (sampling and chemistry), geological, and geophysical data for groundwater research purposes, including a national perspective on definitions of 'baseline' groundwater quality.
Custodian: GNS Science
National Petrology Reference Collection and PET Database
National rock, mineral and geoanalytical database, containing locations, descriptions and analyses of rock and mineral samples from on and offshore NZ, Antarctica and worldwide. Contains over 207,000 sample records, 58892 of which have analytical data.
Custodian: GNS Science
National Vegetation Survey Database
A physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 104,000 vegetation survey plots, including over 24,000 permanent plots. Spans more than 60 years of records of indigenous and exotic plants, with special emphasis on indigenous forests and grasslands.
Custodian: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
New Zealand Arthropod Collection and Nematode Collection & Specimens and Information
Collection of New Zealand and overseas insects and worms. Established in the 1920s, it contains over seven million species, and the most complete coverage of terrestrial invertebrates in the country.
Custodian: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
New Zealand Fossil Record
A computerised and paper file of fossil localities in New Zealand and nearby regions, including Antarctica. Contains over 98,000 entries, including locality coordinates with collection details, stratigraphic position, and relevant sedimentary data.
Custodian: GNS Science
New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database
Records the occurrence of fish in fresh waters of New Zealand. Data includes the location of sample sites and the fish species present, as well as information on their abundance, size, sampling method, and a physical description of each site. Contains over 34,000 freshwater fish observations.
Custodian: NIWA
New Zealand Fungal Herbarium and Associated Database
Comprehensive record of all New Zealand fungal species, with accurate identifications, authoritative names, and geographic range information to support taxonomic and systematic research, and biosecurity risk assessment support. Contains over 100,000 specimens.
Custodian: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
New Zealand Geomagnetic Database
Documents the short- and long-term fluctuations in the earth's regional (New Zealand) magnetic field, including induction and diurnal effects, as well as the effects of the earth moving on its axis. Consists of observatory records, three-component repeat station observations, and three-component single observations.
Custodian: GNS Science
New Zealand National Paleontological Collection and Database
A large number of type and figured specimens of fossil tax from New Zealand and its surrounding areas, including extensive molluscan, foramineral and palynological systematic references, and important historical collections.
Custodian: GNS Science
New Zealand Volcano Database
Three inter-related datasets covering New Zealand's active and dormant volcanoes. Includes time-series data of geophysical measurements, observations and photographs of eruptions, field sheets, maps, drill logs, and historical and bibliographic information and photographs.
Custodian: GNS Science
Nga Tipu Whakaoranga - Ethnobotany Database and NZ Flax and Living Plant Collection
Fully referenced, detailed information on how Maori used plants before the arrival of Europeans, including fungi and seaweeds. Material relating to later economic uses of native plants is recorded too, although generally not on timber uses or the kauri gum trade.
Custodian: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
NIWA Marine Benthic Biology Collection
Collection of specimens from the seafloor, following over 50 years of marine taxonomy and biodiversity research. Provides information on new biochemicals, biosecurity and diversity, and informs the understanding of marine ecosystems and conservation.
Custodian: NIWA
Possum EST Database
A large database (150,000 sequences) of genes expressed by the silver-grey brush-tailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Decommissioned in New Zealand, all sequences and annotations have been uploaded to Genbank and are freely available as an open-source database.
Custodian: AgResearch
Regional Geological Map Archive and Database
Collection of more than 9,000 geological maps and field sheets that date back to the late 19th century. These historical documents record valuable information and an evolving interpretation and understanding of New Zealand's geology.
Custodian: GNS Science
Research Herbarium for Plant Biosystematics
Collections used to identify species and to undertake studies on the form of plants. Enables weed identification and provides plant information for researchers, and regional and national authorities. It contains over 620,000 specimens.
Custodian: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research
Solar UVB Radiation Base
Information on the levels of solar UVB radiation reaching the earth's surface. Also includes ozone, cloud transmission, total radiation, and various biological weightings for approximately 100 sites in the New Zealand region.
Custodian: NIWA
Water Resources Archive
Repository of freshwater time series data. Data stored includes river and lake water levels and flow, sediment concentration, and water quality. The archive comprises the National Hydrometric and the National River Water Quality networks and databases.
Custodian: NIWA