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.

  • New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage highlights

    Highlights of the New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage 2015.
  • Antarctica research voyage achievements

    Media release
    Dr Richard O’Driscoll, Voyage Leader aboard RV Tangaroa for the NZ-Australia Antarctica Ecosystems Voyage 2015 says the research project accomplished all science objectives they set out to achieve.
  • Scientists return from successful Antarctic research voyage

    Media release
    NIWA deepwater research vessel Tangaroa docks in Wellington today to complete a successful six-week New Zealand-Australia Antarctic Ecosystems voyage.
  • (no image provided)

    Voyage leader's final update

    Blog
    Now back on dry land, Voyage Leader Richard O'Driscoll reflects on the final days of RV Tangaroa's 2015 Antarctica expedition.
  • (no image provided)

    NIWA’s research receives international recognition

    Media release
    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.
  • NIWA's Hotspot Watch 10 March 2015

    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”.
  • BLOG: Sir Peter Blake Trust Ambassador Blake Hornblow - leaving the polar zone

    Blog
    Our journey is slowly coming to an end. The past five weeks has passed so quickly and I have loved every moment of it.
  • Little wonder - the ocean’s primary productivity

    News article
    At the base of the ocean’s food chain are algae. Algae feed the krill that feed the whales.
  • BLOG: Sir Peter Blake Trust Ambassador Zac Penman - final days

    Blog
    Today marked the last official day of science here in the Ross Sea. The ship has now been turned north and the 8 day steam back to Wellington has begun.
  • Critter of the Week: The mottled brittlestar – Ophionereis fasciata Hutton, 1872

    The mottled brittle star Ophionereis fasciata, known as weki huna in Māori, lives under rocks in the low intertidal or shallow subtidal right around New Zealand.
  • SAFE PASSAGE: Ice Pilot’s critical mission

    Ice pilot Scott Laughlin is on the New Zealand - Australia Antarctic Ecosystems Voyage to guide RV Tangaroa through the Antarctic waters.
  • Safe passage: Ice Pilot's critical mission

    News article
    A research voyage in Antarctic waters faces the tyranny of distance and ice during every hour of the six-week voyage.