NIWA

Climate, Freshwater & Marine Science

NIWA

2022 off to a searing start

20 July 2022
New Zealand’s weather is proving no exception to the record-breaking extremes occurring around the globe.
Climate
Climate change
Weather
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Tonga volcano “afterglow” causes dazzling skies in Antarctica

15 July 2022
Antarctica is experiencing stunning skyscapes like those recently seen in New Zealand, thanks to the afterglow effect from the Tongan volcano.
Antarctica
Atmosphere
Climate
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Matariki viewing prospects

21 June 2022
NIWA meteorologists say people living in the lower North Island and eastern South Island are likely to get the best views of the Matariki star cluster during the upcoming weekend.
Climate
Maori
Weather
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Popular services and publications

UV index
Tide forecaster
Cam-era
NiwaWeather
Seasonal Climate Outlook
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More top stories

15 June 2022
Media Release

Seen a stunning sunrise or sunset lately? The Tongan volcano may be the cause

The Tongan volcanic eruption may be responsible for New Zealand’s unusually vibrant sunrises and sunsets, say NIWA scientists.
10 June 2022
Media Release

In the snow: new tool to advise New Zealanders of snow conditions

A new tool giving near real-time snow data has been made available to the public for the first time.
9 June 2022

Demand grows for NIWA’s Riparian Management Training

NIWA has updated and restarted a course using a riparian planning tool developed by one of its former chief scientists more than 20 years ago.  

9 June 2022
Media Release

Ki uta ki tai: NIWA’s role in mountains-to-sea estuarine management

Estuaries are coastal waterbodies where freshwater mixes with seawater. Many estuaries in Aotearoa New Zealand have been impacted by pollutants and contaminants entering via freshwater.
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What happened in the South Pacific's Big Bang?

NIWA scientists and The Nippon Foundation have been on a mission to discover the undersea impacts of the Hunga Tonga - Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption.

Follow the Tonga underwater survey voyage on board the RV Tangaroa

Features

Open wide: snapper teeth secrets

3 May 2022

NIWA and University of Auckland masters student Georgia Third is getting up close and personal with snapper guts and teeth to understand the differences between biologically distinct snapper populations in New Zealand.

A Hard Rain’s A’Gonna Fall

A Hard Rain’s A’Gonna Fall

31 May 2022
Climate change means more intense storm systems are on their way. Science can’t stop it raining, but it can help communities prepare for the worst and plan for the future.

What’s in a fish’s ear?

What’s in a fish’s ear?

31 May 2022
The tiny ear bone of a fish holds a wealth of information. Gather enough and you get a snapshot of what’s happening beneath the waves. Stuart Mackay explains.

Chasing deepsea shadows

Chasing deepsea shadows

30 May 2022
Mia Blyth catches up with a marine biologist hunting for ocean ghosts.