Climatic implications from the sequential changes in diversity and biogeographic affinities for brachiopods and bivalves in the Permian of eastern Australia and New Zealand

► Characterisation of high-latitude Gondwana cold-water faunas. ► Delineation of low-diversity faunas and high-diversity marine macro-invertebrate faunas. ► Low- and high-diversity faunas separated by intervals of stable, long lasting cool conditions. ► Six Permian major cooling events recognised for eastern Australia-New Zealand.