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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    Fish screening: fish-led design

    Effective fish screen facilities work with fish behaviour, not against it 
  • Fish screen

    Fish screening FAQ’s

      
  • Fish screening

    Research Project
    Guidance for enhanced fish protection around irrigation water intakes designed to safely direct fish past the intake.
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    How serious games are providing a constructive space to plan for adaptation 

    Adaptation simulations and serious games build the capacity of participants and facilitate meaningful, sometimes challenging, conversations.
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    How different economic tools inform adaptation in Aotearoa’s coastal lowlands

    How Aotearoa New Zealand’s coastal lowland systems respond to sea‑level rise & what adaptation options may be effective.
  • Nate Rowe (Mana Whenua Te Āti Awa o Te Upoko o te Ika), Joshu Mountjoy, Cliff Law, April Nepia-Su’a and Shade Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu) on RV Tangaroa before sailing on the RaGAS voyage to Te Matau-a-Māui Hawke Bay in May 2026.

    Mihi whakatau/wananga and karakia to launch fieldwork on Ocean Alkalinity

    Blog
    A mihi whakatau and wananga were held at Mana Ahuriri Trust headquarters in Ahuriri Napier on 11th May as part of the “Catching Marine Carbon” programme (NIWA project END25304).
  • Summer 2017 rural Wairarapa

    Formidable El Niño expected to arrive this winter 

    News article
    Global climate models are now showing a clear consensus for an El Niño event to arrive this winter.
  • Rural Wairarapa drought 2017

    From our forecasters: Winter 2026 may see the start of a formidable El Niño event 

    La Niña has only just ended, but already we are anticipating a potentially rapid flip to its opposite phase – El Niño.  
  • Hotspot Watch 23 April 2026

    Hotspot
    This is the final Hotspot Watch update for this season. The Hotspot Watch will return during spring 2026.
  • Launch of new MBIE research programme – “Catching Marine Carbon”

    Blog
    The kick-off meeting for the new $11M 5-year MBIE Endeavour Research Programme “Catching Marine Carbon: Testing Ocean Solutions for Climate Mitigation using Natural Analogues” (NIWA project END25304) was held at Greta Point on 22nd April.
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    Hotspot Watch 17 April 2026

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.
  • Hotspot Watch 10 April 2026

    Hotspot
    A weekly update describing soil moisture patterns across the country to show where dry to extremely dry conditions are occurring or imminent.