NIWA scientists hope the work they've done to map the Waiwhetu Aquifer under Wellington harbour will help scientists around the world to find new sources of drinking water.
Instead of resorting to expensive drilling they utilised novel methods to record video footage and acoustic soundings of freshwater flowing out of various pockmarks in Wellington Harbour.
They found several hundred freshwater sources, the largest of which are over 100m across.
Project designer Joshu Mountjoy says the implications are huge, especially for drought prone and water scarce areas.
Mountjoy spoke to Corin Dann.
