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.

  • Climate science may help predict mussel production

    News article
    Sea temperatures influence mussel production, but the link between the two is not always clear. Sea temperatures have been rising globally with climate change, but temperatures also fluctuate with shorter-term climate variability, along with other factors that influence food supply for the mussels.
  • Air quality updates during Covid19 level restrictions

    Publication series
    Changes in New Zealand air quality due to COVID-19 level restrictions.
  • Critter of the Week: Xenophora (Xenophora) neozelanica neozelanica - the shell collector

    This week we look at a gastropod that cements other mollusc shells, small stones, dead coral or any other miscellaneous handy debris to the outside of its shell as it grows.
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    Global experts confirm NIWA's finding on Southwest Pacific's coldest ever temperature

    Media release
    A World Meteorological Organisation panel has confirmed a finding that a temperature of -25.6°C observed at Eweburn, Ranfurly in New Zealand on 17 July 1903 is the coldest temperature recorded for the Southwest Pacific Region.
  • NIWA’s research receives international recognition

    World-class climate and ozone research by scientists at NIWA’s Lauder Atmospheric Research Station has been recognised by meteorology’s leading organisation in Geneva, making Lauder the fourth upper-air site in the world to be certified by the global climate-data network.
  • Critter of the Week: phyllosoma

    This week we’re showing you something a little different. No, it’s not a member of a specific species – instead, it’s a phyllosoma.
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    Name the Glider

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    Water sampling for primary productivity

  • Critter of the Week: the spikey amphipod - Labriphimedia pulchridentata

    This week it is International Museum week on Twitter so we thought we would bring you a story about an exciting find in our NIWA Invertebrate Collection archives.
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    Is extreme weather the new normal?

    News article
    New Zealanders have just experienced one of the driest summers on record – great for beachgoers and cricket lovers, but far from ideal for farmers and orchardists relying on rain to maintain productivity.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch

    Hotspot
    Weekly update to help media assess likelihood of extremely dry weather preceding a drought. Regions experiencing severely to extremely drier than normal soils conditions are deemed “hotspots”.
  • A mother humpback whale and her calf surface for air.

    2015 - Antarctic Ecosystems

    The six-week New Zealand-Antarctic Ecosystem Voyage saw RV Tangaroa travel through the Southern Ocean to the Ross Sea to conduct a range of scientific fieldwork. The voyage was a collaboration between Antarctica New Zealand, NIWA and the Australian Antarctic Division.