Winners from NIWA's annual staff photography competition have been revealed for 2017, showing parts of New Zealand in a way rarely seen before.
The images include a breath-taking backdrop of the Milky Way from Porters Pass in the South Island.
Taken by freshwater fish ecologist Shannan Crow, the image won the people's choice award, as voted by the public.
Mr Crow said capturing the photo took a lot of patience and perfect timing.
Crispin Middleton won the special award for his photo of squid, taken while diving near the Poor Knights Islands, north of Auckland.
"Despite the squid only being around 10-15mm long, my wife spotted it from the boat, as we were driving along the coast of the Poor Knights," he said.
"By the time we anchored, I was sure it would have made a getaway, but as soon as I backward-rolled into the water, the little thing was right there in front of me, posing for photographs.
"I wish more marine critters would behave like this."
Watch the video.
Newshub.