About NIWA

NIWA, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, is a Crown Research Institute established in 1992. It operates as a stand-alone company with its own Board of Directors and Executive.

NIWA's mission is to conduct leading environmental science to enable the sustainable management of natural resources for New Zealand and the planet.

Find out more about our board, management teams, and key National Centre contacts. To locate individuals working at NIWA simply use our staff search below.

The Statement of Core Purpose spells out why the Government owns Crown Research Institutes and what it expects from them.

This Statement of Corporate Intent (SCI) sets out NIWA's strategy for delivering against its core purpose over the next five years.

NIWA has working relationships with hundreds of organisations in New Zealand and overseas.

Digital copies of all our annual reports published since 2011.

Find out more about working at NIWA

Recent updates to the science sector reforms that affect NIWA.

NIWA's goal is to provide the science to help New Zealanders transition to a sustainable future.

In 2022 NIWA commenced participation in the government's Kia Toipoto programme.

We aim to deliver the science that enables New Zealand to meet its environmental challenges and thrive in a rapidly changing world. To fulfil our purpose we need to understand the way animals live and survive as vital parts of the overall ecosystem.