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.

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    Water & Atmosphere 11, November 2014

    The November issue of NIWA's flagship publication, Water & Atmosphere (the water issue), is now out. Read it here.
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    Scientists make rare find in Auckland streams

    News article
    NIWA and Auckland Council freshwater scientists using fish pheromone samplers have made a rare discovery in two Auckland streams.
  • CHES - smarter use of New Zealand’s river waters

    CHES (Cumulative Hydrological Effects Simulator) software tool predicts how water flows in a catchment will change with multiple water uses (e.g. direct abstractions or storage reservoirs) and what the consequences will be to in-stream ecosystems and reliability of water-take.
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    Critter of the Week : the venus flower baskets Euplectellidae

    An animal entirely made out of glass? We don’t have to go to an alien world for this but just have to look deep into our oceans.
  • Ozone depleting substance found to be rising

    News article
    NIWA researchers have made a prominent contribution to new research showing the international treaty to protect the ozone layer is working ¬- despite the discovery of increased levels of ozone-depleting hydrogen chloride in the Northern Hemisphere.
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    Critter of the Week: a “Brittle Star Village” on Admiralty Seamount, Antarctica

    This long spiny-armed brittle star is named Ophiocamax gigas Koehler, 1900, and was collected from 700 m deep on the Admiralty Seamount, just north of the Ross Sea, Antarctica in 2008.
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    This week's Critter recaps the Antarctic sea pig Protelpidia murrayi

    The Antarctic ‘sea pig’ (Protelpidia murrayi) is a type of sea cucumber that can be found roaming the muddy seafloor in the Ross Sea.
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    Critter of the Week: the king of the ocean, the king crab Lithodes aotearoa.

    Our largest New Zealand king crab is something to behold when it comes on deck.
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    Regional climatologies

    Publication series
    A regional climatology is a summary of the typical weather and climate of a region, based on historical data observations made at climate stations located within the region.
  • Chatham Islands

    The weather of the Chatham Islands is marked by rapid changes of conditions, and typically windy cloudy conditions.
  • Nelson and Tasman

    Nelson City and Tasman District are located in the most north-westerly part of the South Island and generally are the first to be influenced by weather systems moving onto the island from the north.
  • Wellington

    The climate and weather of the Wellington region is characterised by strong variations in space and time, strongly influenced by the presence of Cook Straight and the rugged local topography.