| Name of vessel | Kaharoa |
| Owner | NIWA Vessel Management Ltd. |
| Flag | New Zealand |
| Call Sign | ZM 7552 |
| Port of Registry | Wellington |
| Classification | Class 10 |
| Year of construction | 1981 |
| Length | 28.0 meters |
| Beam | 8.2 meters |
| Draft | 3.2 meters |
| Displacement | 300 tons |
| Cruising speed | 10.5 knots |
| Main engines | Lister Blackstone 511 KW at 750 rpm |
| Propeller | Liaanen Control Pitch |
| Freshwater capacity | 21.3 cubic meters |
| Water Maker | approx 1 ton per day |
| Fuel capacity | 48.8 cubic meters |
| Freezing capacity | 8 ton insulated ice hold |
| Accomodation | 5 Scientific staff comfortably, 8 maximum |
| Endurance | 30 days |
| Rescue Boat | Lancer Inflatable SOLAS B |
| Work Boat | Optional |