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

Climate Observations

Climate Observations is a core-funded project under our Future Climate Flagship Programme.  Our work explores recent instrumental data, historical observations and natural archives to track variability and changes in climate.

  • Overview and objectives

    Overview and objectives of the Climate Present and Past project.
  • Outputs and accomplishments

    Outputs and accomplishments partly or fully funded under the Climate Present and Past project in recent years.
  • People

    Key people involved in Climate Present & Past, including our external research partners.
  • Fundamental Climate Observations

    Research Project
    Get data, time series plots and maps for key climate indicators and present day context here.
  • Southwest Pacific climate

    Our southwest Pacific research focuses on recent and historic climate and weather activity, including our involvement in ACRE Pacific data rescue.
  • New Zealand climate

    New Zealand climate research in Climate Present and Past focuses on trends, extremes, and variability of rainfall, temperature and atmospheric circulation.
  • Palaeoclimate

    NIWA conducts a wide range of paleoclimate research to help us define and understand what the climate was doing before we had instruments to record it.
  • Historic climate

    An overview of historical climate work completed under Climate Present and Past project.
  • Southern Alps glaciers

    Long-term photographic documentation of Southern Alps glacier responses to climate variability and change.