On 1 July 2025, NIWA merged with GNS Science to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Atmospheric analysis

NIWA has been using advanced scientific instruments to measure atmospheric trace gases and isotopes for over 50 years.

  • Wood processing

    Trees are grown and converted into a range of useful timber and paper products.
  • Tangaroa new logo

    RV Tangaroa

    Facility
    RV Tangaroa is New Zealand’s only ice strengthened and dynamically positioned deep-water research vessel.
  • Daily climate maps

    These climate maps are updated daily and are based on data from our National Climate Database.
  • Wairarapa drought

    Drought

    Education Resource
    Defining drought and identifying its causes and impacts on humans.
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    How deep is the snow at your place?

    Measurements of snowfall at low elevations around New Zealand are few and far between, and yet the data would be really helpful in understanding how snowfall occurs and quantifying snow-related risks.
  • Tonga volcano “afterglow” causes dazzling skies in Antarctica

    Media release
    Antarctica is experiencing stunning skyscapes like those recently seen in New Zealand, thanks to the afterglow effect from the Tongan volcano.
  • Atlantis ecosystem model

    Atlantis is a 3D, spatially-explicit, trophodynamic ecosystem model that integrates biology, physics, chemistry and human impacts to provide a synoptic view of marine ecosystem function.
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    Suspended-sediment yield estimator

    This national GIS ‘layer’ enables reconnaissance-scale estimation of suspended-sediment yields from New Zealand’s rivers and streams. It has been developed by NIWA in collaboration with Landcare Research.
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    Impacts

    Diverting water changes a waterways natural flow
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    Sediment and forestry

    How may forestry activities increase sediments in waterways?
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    Mitigation and best practice options

    Some simple steps to minimise the effects of aquaculture activities on water quality and mahinga kai.
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    Biological limitations

    Identifying biological factors that may be limiting fish numbers requires sampling to ensure that key invertebrate prey species are not scarce and that pest fish, especially predators, are not abundant.