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

Climate & Weather

Understanding our variable and changing climate is critical for managing resources and reducing risks.

  • Climate scientists making shift to new “normal”

    Media release
    NIWA climate scientists are redefining what’s normal when it comes to the weather.
  • June blows hot and cold – and possibly hottest of all

    Media release
    A weather roller coaster is coming to town and country before the end of the month.
  • NIWA calculates 1:200 year flood for parts of Canterbury

    Media release
    Preliminary analysis by NIWA climate scientists has shown that the recent Canterbury rainfall was so extreme in some inland places that it could be expected to happen only once every 200 years.
  • Sea2Cloud – how marine aerosols influence the atmosphere and climate

    Research Project
    Clouds over the ocean, and how they trap or emit radiation from the sun, are partly influenced by the biology, biogeochemistry and physics of the surface ocean below.
  • Play the climate change game at Fieldays

    Media release
    Farmers visiting NIWA’s Fieldays stand at Mystery Creek next week have the opportunity to see into their future by playing a game that dices with climate change.
  • Field teams and forecasters cover monumental rainfall event

    Feature story
    The prodigious rainmaker that hit Canterbury earlier this month saw NIWA field teams out in the elements collecting flood data from bridges, cableways and jetboat gaugings.
  • Skies looking mostly clear for spotting rare Super Blood Moon

    Media release
    NIWA forecasters say expected clear skies are looking good for spotting the Super Blood Moon on Wednesday night.
  • NIWA seeks help from skiers and snow bunnies

    Media release
    A NIWA scientist is asking for the help of skiers, mountaineers and alpine professionals to collect snow for a new research project.
  • Storm surge and wave forecasting

    Service
    We combine capabilities in weather, wave, storm surge and tide forecasting with tide gauge observations.
  • Happy diamond anniversary for some laudable work

    Media release
    A Central Otago scientific research station with a globally revered reputation is marking its 60th anniversary.
  • Scientists examine high winds on Auckland Harbour Bridge

    Media release
    When high winds on the Auckland Harbour Bridge last September caused two trucks to topple over, one into a load-bearing strut, NIWA scientists began thinking about what role they could play in preventing it from happening again.
  • Marine reserves join ocean acidification network

    Media release
    A joint NIWA and Department of Conservation (DOC) project is extending New Zealand’s ocean acidification monitoring network to include marine reserves.