Climate & Weather

New Zealand’s glaciers have all retreated and lost volume since NIWA started surveying them in 1977.

New Zealand is situated in the latitudes of prevailing westerlies and exposed coastal locations often experience strong winds, with generally lighter winds elsewhere.

13 March 2018Twice a day at 1pm and 8.30 pm Sean Hartery, NIWA, and Peter Kuma, University of Canterbury, head for the Fantail at the very back of the ship to release their weather balloons.

Climate scientists and glaciologists are taking to the skies this week to find out how New Zealand’s glaciers are faring following this summer’s record-breaking warmth.

Ancient swamp kauri is being used by NIWA scientists to reveal the secrets of past climates.

Despite a sub-tropical storm and two ex-tropical cyclones, this summer is about to become the hottest in history.

21 February 2018John McGregor from NIWA checks on the instruments that measure atmospheric gases throughout our voyage.

A two-week expedition to tag blue whales in New Zealand waters for the first time, almost came up empty due to warmer sea temperatures causing the animals to change their behaviour.

Hotspots in the North Island are located across Gisborne, the Tararua District, and in parts of west coastal Taranaki. The only hotspot in the South Island is in Southland.

North Island hotspots continue to be found across much of Gisborne, northern Hawke’s Bay, and Tararua west to Horowhenua and Kapiti Coast. A small hotspot has also emerged across the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. The only hotspot in the South Island continues to be located in Southland, but it has decreased significantly in size and strength due to the recent heavy rainfall.

Current North Island hotspots are found in coastal Gisborne, interior Wairoa, as well as small portions of Kapiti Coast, Horowhenua, and Tararua. The only hotspot in the South Island continues to be a sizeable one which covers much of southern and interior Otago and nearly all of Southland.