About NIWA

NIWA’s mission is to support the wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand’s people and businesses through improved management of the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, and effective responses to global change.

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.

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

From the lowest depths to the highest reaches, our more than 700 staff work in the most beautiful environments on Earth. The urge to capture the moment is often irresistible, so each year we celebrate our staff’s best snaps in the NIWA photography competition.

Read NIWA's 2021/22 Annual Report.

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.

Read NIWA's 2021 Half Year Report.

Te Piko o te Māhuri is a development initiative that provides pathways and opportunities for young Māori researchers across NIWA’s climate, freshwater and oceans platforms

NIWA’s priority is to provide the safest possible working environment for all our staff and people who work with us in our workplaces, in the context of the increasing community transmission of COVID-19.